A TERRITORIAL Army soldier from Hampshire who was shot dead in Afghanistan was described by his widow today as "wonderful".

Sapper William Blanchard, 39, from Gosport, leaves behind a large family including his wife and two children.

A radiation protection officer by profession and a science graduate, Sapper Blanchard had volunteered for the 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) since 2007 and deployed to Afghanistan in September, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The soldier, the son of the Rev Canon Lawrence Blanchard, was killed by small arms fire in the Nahr-e Saraj North District of Helmand Province on Saturday.

He was serving with the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force and was attending the scene of a suspect device when he died.

His death takes the total number of UK military personnel fatalities since operations began in Afghanistan in 2001 to 342.

Sapper Blanchard's widow Suzanne said: "Will was a wonderful husband, son, brother, father, brother-in-law, son-in-law and friend.

"Sorely missed; always in our hearts, never forgotten by his devastated family, friends and colleagues and his beloved wife."

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Davis, Commanding Officer Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force, described Sapper Blanchard as a "father figure" to younger members of the squadron, who brought knowledge and experience from his civilian life.

"He was always concerned with their development and welfare, always displaying an interest in what they were doing and always keeping them informed - he was the consummate professional and it was not for nothing that he was known as the 'Colonel'," he said.

"He was a perfectionist but one who had endless patience with his fellow soldiers, he was both impeccable and irreplaceable; people like Sapper Blanchard only come along once in a blue moon.

"Our loss runs exceptionally deep; Sapper Blanchard has left a palpable void within the C-IED Task Force; he was a brave and selfless soldier who took time out from his civilian employment to commit himself to our country and to the future of Afghanistan.

"He was always talking about his family and made his deep affection for them known to all."