Grieving dad: I've lost best mate
The father of a Black Country soldier killed in Afghanistan today said he had lost his "best mate".
Daniel Probyn's family, said the 22-year-old was only on a tour of duty in the country after volunteering to go.
His father Michael, aged 46, described his son as a quiet and caring young man.
"He was my best mate. Even when he was little he used to love anything to do with the military, such as old gas masks and the like.
"He would dress up as a soldier as a boy and he joined the army cadets for a time when he was 14," said Mr Probyn, who lives in the Hawbush area of Brierley Hill.
"The day he passed out from Catterick I was so proud."
Guardsman Probyn, of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed on May 26 when British forces successfully engaged and destroyed a Taliban stronghold using artillery, mortars and small arms fire.
As they cleared the enemy's positions they were hit by an explosion which killed the young soldier.
His comrades have since hailed him a hero for saving the lives of four fellow soldiers by warning them about the attack which subsequently cost him his life.
And it has emerged that the former Tividale High School pupil, who joined the army in 2003, was commended for his outstanding bravery in Iraq during an attack just months earlier.
He was publicly applauded by army top brass last August for helping to take a seriously injured soldier to safety during a mortar attack during one of his two stints in Iraq.
His efforts led to one Lieutenant describing him as "the most outstanding soldier I have come across."
His father added: "He was so modest, we didn't even know that he had received a commendation in Iraq. He'd volunteered to go to Afghanistan.
"The day I found out what had happened it broke my heart.
"When his body was returned on the plane I was just so proud of him. He would put himself on the line before anyone else and he proved that."
The soldier, whose family has moved to Brierley Hill from Tipton, also picked up an award for best endeavour during his army training.
The West Bromwich Albion fan, who leaves three brothers and a sister, had been in Afghanistan just over six weeks before his death. His mother Ann said: "He would never ask us for anything, and he was so well mannered and never got into trouble, the only thing he wanted us to send out was a toothbrush.
"We could not have asked for a better son, and he has been such a good role model for our other children.
"He trained so hard to get into the army, it was the perfect job for him.
"He would ask the kids to fill up his bag with bottles of water and his dad would help him train to pass his fitness test.
"He was ecstatic when he heard that he had got into the army after doing all his training.
"We have had so much support from family and friends and from the army, and the things people have been saying about him are wonderful and have helped to comfort us. We would like to thank everyone for their support.
"We are thinking of his mates who are still in hospital."
A full military funeral will be held at Christ Church in Quarry Bank at 3pm tomorrow for close family and friends.
An inquest into the incident has been opened and adjourned and will reconvene at a date to be set.
