Relatives of a British soldier killed by a blast in southern Afghanistan have spoken of their pride, describing him as a "true friend". Skip related content
Related photos / videos
Family's pride for fallen soldier
Corporal James Oakland, 26, from the Royal Military Police, died while on a foot patrol near Gereshk district centre in Helmand Province on Thursday morning.
His parents Steve and Christine, brother Daniel - who is in his final term at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst - and long-term girlfriend Lauren Bowyer said: "We are immensely proud of James, the person he was and the job that he did. He was a true friend, loving son, grandson, brother and boyfriend, who will be dearly missed and never forgotten."
Cpl Oakland, whose family are from New Moston, Manchester, was killed by a blast from an improvised explosive device.
The soldier's death, the fourth this month, took the number of British troops who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001 to 222.
I comes as tens of thousands of anti-war protestors prepare to descend on London for a demonstration calling for the end of Britain's military involvement in Afghanistan.
Tributes have been paid to a schoolgirl who died after slipping in her high heels and falling under a train while waving goodbye to her friends.
