SOLDIERS and families at Larkhill were in mourning this week after a sergeant from the garrison was killed in action in the Afghan badlands.

Sergeant Dave Wilkinson, 33, died after his vehicle was blown up during a routine patrol in southern Afghanistan on Sunday - bringing losses among Salisbury Plain based soldiers to five in the past month.

Sergeant Wilkinson, known as Pidge to his friends, was a member of 19 Regiment Royal Artillery, from Larkhill, serving with 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards at the time of the incident, in which four other members of the patrol were injured.

The patrol was conducting operations with the Afghan National Army when it was hit by an improvised explosive device.

All the injured soldiers were quickly evacuated by helicopter to a medical facility at Camp Bastion, but Sergeant Wilkinson was pronounced dead on arrival. He leaves a wife, Rachel.

Brought up and educated in Ashford, Kent, Sergeant Wilkinson joined the Army in 1993 and, after training, was posted to 19/5 (Gibraltar 1779-83) Battery Royal Artillery, then part of 94 Locating Regiment Royal Artillery, the "Kent Gunners." He spent the majority of his career serving with the battery, forging many strong friendships over 14 years, which included service in Turkey and Norway as well as operations in the Balkans and Iraq.

A highly qualified senior non-commissioned officer, he specialised in the motor transport trade and was able to instruct on almost every vehicle in the regiment.

Paying tribute to him this week, his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Will Bramble said: "Sergeant Wilkinson excelled as a soldier. Clearly passionate about his trade, he contributed widely to the Regiment and was held in the highest regard by all those who knew him. His selfless nature and wry wit made him extremely popular. His death is a tragic loss that has left a space that is impossible to fill.

"Our thoughts are with his wife Rachel and family. His courage will continue to be an example to all of us."

Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "Sergeant Wilkinson was a particularly experienced and professional soldier and his loss has touched all who knew him."