By Andrew Jarret

THE CLOSE-KNIT forces’ community in Arbroath suffered fresh heartbreak at the weekend with the news that yet another serviceman from the town has lost his life in Afghanistan.

The death of 27-year-old Marine Darren James Smith on Saturday brings the total number of dead from the unit for this current deployment to nine.

Marine Smith was killed in action on operations in Helmand Province while providing cover for an explosive ordnance disposal team when his patrol was ambushed by Taliban fighters.

Despite the best efforts of his colleagues, he tragically died of his wounds in a helicopter en route to the medical facilities at Camp Bastion.

He was a member of X-ray Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines, and was based at the Forward Operating Base Nolay, in southern Sangin.

Marine Smith, known as Daz, was originally from Fleetwood in Lancashire. He joined X-ray Company in July 2008 immediately after completing Royal Marines Commando Recruit Training and was described as “the epitome of a young Royal Marine; enthusiastic, hard-working, fiercely loyal to his friends and very brave.”

He carried the light machine gun and was always at the front of his troop, leading the patrol on operations against the Taliban.

Marine Smith was enormously popular with all of the other members of X-ray Company. He was a young man at the start of his career in the Royal Marines, but he already had a reputation for hard work and high professional standards.

He was a keen footballer and had trials for Everton, Manchester City and Blackpool, but Liverpool was the team he supported.

During the quieter times of the deployment when relaxed and amongst his mates, he would always speak of his two-year-old daughter Keira, of whom he was immensely proud. He was a devoted father and his thoughts would quickly turn to his girlfriend, who he had been with since childhood.

Lieutenant Colonel Jim Morris, Commanding Officer, 45 Commando Group, said, “The loss of Marine Daz Smith has reverberated with great sadness around 45 Commando Group. Brave, determined, modest yet fun-loving and full of life, he was always in the thick of the action whether on patrol or in his off-duty moments.

“He had an extremely bright future ahead of him and was viewed as one of the great talents in his company.

“He was killed in the midst of a small arms engagement with the Taliban whilst providing essential fire support to his colleagues during a patrol that had discovered a large cache of Taliban ammunition.”

Lieutenant Colonel Morris continued, “His tragic death has been felt very deeply across the commando and the ultimate sacrifice that he has made will be remembered by us all.

“I send my deepest condolences to his friends and close family and in particular to Kelly, his girlfriend, and his daughter Keira, of whom he was so proud.”

Major Richard Maltby, officer commanding X-ray Company, added, “Marine Daz Smith was the embodiment of a Royal Marine Commando—cheerful, courageous, determined and utterly professional, he died suppressing the enemy in a significant firefight.

“It has been my absolute privilege to serve with such a loyal, fearless and good-natured man.

“His loss will be deeply felt within the troop and company as a whole. However, at this difficult and tragic time, my thoughts are with his partner, Kelly, and their young daughter.”

Second Lieutenant Toby Jones, officer commanding with 5 Troop, said of Marine Smith, “He displayed in abundance that valued tenant of the commando spirit above all other—cheerfulness in the face of adversity.

“He was determined and whenever anything needed doing, you could rely on Daz being the first man to get the job done, always giving his very best.

“Unselfishness is another valued tenant of the commando spirit and this he displayed by his boundless devotion to his fellow marines, girlfriend Kelly and young daughter Keira.

“Up until the very end he showed remarkable courage and I was immensely proud to be his troop commander.

“He was everything that could be expected in a Royal Marines Commando and more. He will be sorely missed by all.”

Marines John Smith and David Middlemas, added in a joint statement, “Daz Smith was many things to many people, but to everyone who knew him it was obvious that the most important thing in his life was his little girl Keira, together with his childhood sweetheart Kelly.

“He doted on them both and was always speaking of them. To us he was our very own Captain Jack Sparrow—a fisherman from Fleetwood before he joined the corps.

“He was always there to lift the mood of the lads, by sharing out his parcels of sweets whilst coming up with outrageous forfeits for those who lost to him at cards.

“If there was work to be done he was the first to offer a hand and if it could be done listening to happy hardcore, dance or trance, all the better.

“Daz was simply a lovely, lovely bloke and words just aren’t enough to describe how 5 Troop feel about him.”

Angus MP Mike Weir yesterday expressed his sadness at the news that another member of 45 Commando has been killed in action.

He said, “Everyone in Arbroath will feel the pain and devastation felt by his family and friends at this terrible time. My thoughts are with them.

“Yet again the difficulty and magnitude of the task undertaken by 45 Commando in Helmand has been illustrated in this most terrible manner.”