The body of the 201st soldier to die in Afghanistan was repatriated today - alongside two brave fusiliers and the comrade they died trying to save.

Sgt Simon Valentine, 29, a married father of two young daughters, died whilst on routine foot patrol near Sangin on August 15.

Fusilier Simon Annis, 22, and Fusilier Louis Carter, 18, were killed in an explosion as they tried to stretcher injured Lance Corporal James Fullarton, 24, to safety on August 16.

Fusilier Carter threw himself over his section commander L/Cpl Fullarton, who was badly wounded from a previous blast - which killed all three near Sangin, Helmand province.

L/Cpl Fullarton, from Coventry, West Mids., had recently got engaged and Fusilier Annis, from Salford, Manchester, had married just before being deployed.

Fusilier Carter, from Nuneaton, Warks., had only been in the Army two years and was on his first tour when he was killed.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, speaking after the tragic deaths, said: ''These three brave soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the security of all of us in the United Kingdom.

''Their deaths are truly heart rending and their families are in my thoughts; the loved ones they have lost are true heroes.''

All four men were members of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Yesterday (Fri) the town of Wootton Bassett, Wilts., once again fell silent as the bodies of the four men were driven through the town in a sombre repatriation ceremony.

Sgt Valentine, from Bedworth, Warks., leaves his wife Gemma, who he had known since school and married in 2002, and two daughters, Chantelle and Niamh.

After his death, Gemma said: ''Simon, above all else, was a truly loved father, son, husband and friend. To have known him was to have loved him.''

Fusilier Annis married in February this year, just weeks before he was deployed to Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Fullarton had become engaged to his girlfriend Leanne while he was home on leave from Afghanistan in June - and was due to marry next year.

His grandmother Jean Hitchman, who attended yesterday's repatriation, said he will ''always be remembered and never forgotten.''

She said: ''We are all going to miss him so much - he was the apple of my eye and I love him so much.

''He was such a caring, funny, happy and loving boy and he had so many friends.

''I just want to thank everyone who came here today to show their respects because it was a lovely send off.

''He will always be remembered and never forgotten.''

The soldier's deaths took the toll in Afghanistan to 204 - a figure which now stands at 206.

Yesterday the four bodies were flown into nearby RAF Lyneham aboard a C17 aircraft at 11am. The Last Post rang out as their coffins were carried down onto the tarmac.

After a fly-by and private memorial service at the base, the procession of hearses then made its way along the A3102 towards Wootton Bassett.

The High Street fell silent at 2.05pm as the convoy of hearses - each containing a coffin draped in a Union Jack flag - paraded slowly past.

Tearful loved-ones threw flowers and roses onto the vehicles before the cortege stopped for a minute's silence at the town's war memorial.

Veterans lowered their regimental banners as the town's church bells rang in respect, before the hearses continued to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

Yesterday's repatriation was the 87th in the town since April 2007, when nearby RAF Lyneham became Britain's main air base for repatriated servicemen.

Among yesterday's mourners was L/Cpl Fullarton's uncle David Hitchman who praised his nephew as ''one in a million.''

He said: ''James was a great guy. I could be here all day talking about him because he had so many great qualities.

''He was so loved by everyone that knew him and back home in Coventry the football team are remembering him tomorrow by wearing black ties around their arms.

''Unless you have been here for someone you have loved and lost you don't know how it feels. We will never ever forget him.''

Bombardier Dennis Gardener, 79, travelled from Bristol to pay his respects to the four soldiers but said they should ''never'' be fighting in Afghanistan in the first place.

He said: ''These boys should never be let out there - no one should be out there.

''It's such a sad day for the families and friends who have come to say goodbye and I just wanted to come to pay my respects because I think it is important to do that.

''I try to get here as often as I can and so do some of my friends. These men will never be forgotten.''