Simon Hamilton-Jewell, who died on 24 June, 2003, aged 41, was a selfless and courageous soldier who died doing the job he loved.

SergeantHamilton-Jewell was the Platoon Sergeant of the Parachute Provost Platoon serving with the 156 Provost Company, Royal Military Police.

Known as "HJ", Sergeant Hamilton-Jewell was single and from Chessington in Surrey . He was killed with five colleagues when a mob surrounded a police station at Al Majar Al Kabir, near Basra.

He was a tough, career-soldier with 20 years' Army experience. His mother, Teresa, described him as "a man's man and a soldier's soldier."

Sergeant Simon Alexander Hamilton-Jewell had always wanted to be a soldier. He joined the Territorial Army aged only 17 and served for 10 years before joining full-time in 1988.

He had served in Germany and the UK and on operations in Northern Ireland, Sarajevo and Sudan, as well as on exercise in Kenya, Poland and France.

Sergeant Hamilton-Jewell was a trained military parachutist, a fully qualified HGV driver and was trained in martial arts. He had joined 156 Provost Company in March, 2002.

He was a true man of action, an exemplary soldier who always led from the front. His mother and brother, Tony, said of him: "A nod, a wink or a smile; one hundred per cent human being, dedicated to life in full."

The family statement added: "He was a man keen to help anybody; a fearless man, biker, hiker and climber. But above all, a man dedicated to the Army, his Regiment, his unit and to his comrades."

Sergeant Hamilton-Jewell was the commander of the six-strong unit when it was attacked and displayed immense courage in fighting with his men till the very end, even when at one stage he could, himself, have escaped.

The other five soliders were Corporal Russell Aston, Corporal Paul Long, Corporal Simon Miller, Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde and Lance Corporal Thomas Keys.

His funeral took place with full military honours at Royal Garrison Church of All Saints in Aldershot, Hampshire. More than 500 mourners including many Regimental colleagues were present at what the Army described as "a quiet and simple service."

Sergeant Hamilton-Jewell had himself chosen Aldershot as the venue for his funeral because the garrison town is the spiritual home of airborne units. His body was later cremated and his ashes scattered on Salisbury Plain.

Major Bryn Parry-Jones of the 156 Provost Company said: "All these men were highly professional soldiers and policemen. These deaths in action underline the challenging and difficult operations that the Royal Military Police are asked to undertake both in peace and times of conflict."

His family said: "He gave 20 years of service defending others, in so many locations and was a selfless, ultra-fit man to the last. A son and brother beyond belief, 'H-J', 'Hammy' or Simon all meant the same - a top man, friend and soldier."

SergeantHamilton-Jewell was an Army man through and through. He was an exemplary soldier – brave, resourceful and professional. He was good company and a well respected colleague to many in his Regiment.

His family's statement concluded: "He was a very human person who will be dearly missed for the rest of our lives. For a soldier never afraid to do his duty - we love and miss you. God bless."