A Ross-on-Wye soldier has been named as one of the three servicemen killed by an Afghan policeman.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Leonard Perran Thomas, was part of a patrol with two other soldiers to a checkpoint known as Kamparack Pul on Sunday to help organise a meeting (shura) with the local detachment of Afghan National Civil Order Police.

Having completed their task and on leaving the compound, they were attacked by small arms fire and fatally wounded.

They were based in Forward Operating Base Ouellette in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Thomas deployed to Afghanistan on 17 February 2012 as the Military Stabilisation Support Team (MSST) operator attached to Combined Force Burma.

He was born on 8 August 1967 and was from Ross-on-Wye. He enlisted into the Army in 1990, aged 23. On completion of training he joined the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and deployed on Operation GRANBY to Kuwait and Iraq the same year.

He later transferred to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, finishing his regular service in 2005. Much of his career was spent with the Reconnaissance Platoon and he served with distinction whilst in Northern Ireland. As a career soldier he joined the Reserve Forces, continuing his career with 37 Signal Regiment (Volunteers). More recently he held a Full Time Reserve Service appointment in Headquarters Army where he continued supporting operations in the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device area.

WO2 Thomas was in the twilight of an exemplary military career. This was his final operational tour and he was looking forward to spending time pursuing his passion for the outdoors and spending time with his long-term partner Rachel and his mother Sylvia.

WO2 Thomas leaves behind his mother, partner Rachel, and younger brother Tristan (43).

The family of WO2 Thomas paid the following tribute:

"Pez was a military man through and through. He thrived in extreme environments, both in the military and in his spare time.

"He was a keen climber and mountaineer and will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege to have met him."

Colonel Alan Richmond, late Queen's Dragoon Guards, Commander, Military Stabilisation Support Group, said:

"Warrant Officer Class 2 'Pez' Thomas was a soldier of great experience, wisdom and dedication.

"A proud member of 37 Signal Regiment (Volunteers), with 15 years of regular military service behind him, 'Pez' became interested in the activities of the Military Stabilisation Support Group whilst supporting its training. Yearning for a final military deployment, he volunteered to serve with the Group where his presence, passion and experience helped bind together an eclectic team drawn from all sections of the Armed Forces.

"The toughest jobs are given to most able and 'Pez' was deployed to a challenging area of Helmand. There he acted as a Stabilisation Operator; striving to enhance the lives of the people by improving local governance, infrastructure and basic services. It was whilst working tirelessly to build the foundations for a lasting peace that he was so tragically struck down alongside cherished colleagues from the Welsh Guards.

"The Military Stabilisation Support Group mourns the loss of a much valued and respected comrade. For our small tight-knit team in Helmand the grief will be most acute but the loss will undoubtedly strengthen our resolve to get back out and continue his selfless work.

"At this difficult time our prayers and thoughts rest with his partner Rachel and his mother Sylvia."

Lieutenant Colonel Nigel Allison, Royal Logistic Corps, SO1 Transition, Headquarters Task Force Helmand, said:

"Warrant Officer Class 2 Thomas will be remembered by the Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers of the Military Stabilisation Support Group (Afghanistan) as a highly professional, passionate and forthright soldier who was genuinely driven by a desire to make a difference.

"A consummate Warrant Officer he was hardworking, hugely experienced, possessed a keen sense of humour and was rightly proud of his prestigious military career, the majority of which was spent as a member of the Welsh Guards. A measure of the type of man he was is the fact that he had willingly volunteered for one last operational deployment, having spent two and a half years on Full Time Reserve Service working in the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device area within Headquarters Army. On deployment to Afghanistan he then volunteered to be the Military Stabilisation Support Team Operator within Combined Force Burma due to his prior experience as an Infantry Senior Non-Commissioned Officer.

"Warrant Officer Class 2 Thomas persevered in his pursuit to improve the lives of Afghans living in this area and to help connect them to official government structures. During his time, and due to his emphatic approach and dedication, he managed to make huge strides forward and was in the final stages of starting a number of significant projects. This excellent work will not be allowed to falter and will prove a lasting legacy to his memory.

"The Military Stabilisation Support Group (Afghanistan), his colleagues and friends will miss his wit, healthy cynicism and good company. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his partner, Rachel, and his family at this tragic time. We mourn their loss; he is gone but will never be forgotten. His sacrifice will inspire others to follow his example. Rest in peace old comrade."

Their deaths bring the total number of members of UK forces to have died since operations in the country began in October 2001 to 422.