SELFLESS HERO Tom Wroe died fulfilling a childhood dream.

Over the last few years, the popular 18-year-old Rifleman had immersed himself in Army life and, according to all who knew him, was “a born soldier.”

Tom couldn’t wait to get to Afghanistan and was “gutted” when his unit was deployed there in April, but he was unable to join them as he was too young.

He had to wait until he was 18 and left for Afghanistan on July 1, just four days after his 18th birthday. He was the youngest member of his platoon.

Tom, who lived at Hey Crescent, Meltham, with his parents Mick and Claire and sister Demi, 14, died on Saturday with Sgt Gareth Thursby, 29, in the south of Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province.

The pair had been going to the assistance of an apparently-injured man dressed in an Afghan police uniform when he opened fire, killing them both. Their unit is due to return home in early October.

Yesterday Tom’s parents spoke emotionally of their “bubbly, fun and selfless” hero son who always thought of others before himself.

He was universally popular and had countless friends in the Army and back home.

His mother Claire described how Tom would “light up a room”.

Click here for a gallery from Tom's mum and dad showing their son down the years

Related content

The family has been inundated with cards, flowers and messages of condolence at their house and on Facebook.

Tom followed in the footsteps of his father and uncles and joined the Army as soon as he was able.

Mick spent 22 years in the Duke of Wellington Regiment and served in locations around the world, including Gibraltar, Belize, Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq before leaving in 2006.

His two brothers, Tom’s uncles, also served in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, which later became part of The Yorkshire Regiment..

Mick, 48, who now works as an HGV driver, said: “We are a military family and Tom was surrounded by Army. He loved the Army so much.

“We knew all the risks and talked through all the scenarios.

“When his regiment went to Afghanistan, he was only 17 and he was gutted. He couldn’t wait to join his mates.

“We have no regrets, apart from the obvious.

“We discussed the risks, but you just don’t expect it to happen to your son. Nothing could ever have prepared us for the news.

“Tom was a natural soldier. We were proud when he signed up and we are very, very proud of him now. ”

Claire, 39, deputy manager at a care home, added: “Being in the Army was all Tom ever wanted to do. He was buzzing about Afghanistan, he couldn’t wait to go.

“We are a very open family and we all knew the risks. We discussed them as a family.

“Tom was a ray of light. He would walk into a room and it would light up; everybody loved him. He was a hero, a well-loved hero.”

The couple fought back tears as they described how Tom had texted mum Claire last week with a message for his sister Demi, to whom he was particularly close. He said that he missed her.

Mick told how the family had packed three boxes of food and goodies and sent them out to Tom on Saturday, the day that he was killed.

Tom, a pupil at Honley High School, joined his local Army Cadets at the age of 14. He trained at Thongsbridge twice a week and was promoted to corporal.

It was also at Honley High that he met his childhood sweetheart Jess Nunns in Year 10 and the couple were described as “very much in love”.

Tom went straight from school to the Army Foundation College in Harrogate for Phase 1 of his military training. During his time there, his natural aptitude for soldiering came to the fore and he was one of a handful of trainees to be promoted to junior sergeant.

An Army spokesman said: “This is a massive achievement and shows Tom was really excelling in the Army.”

Tom finished his training at Catterick, passing out in August 2011. Three months later he joined the Dukes in Warminster.

Mick added: “Tom was a lovely lad; everybody loved him. He would go out of his way to speak to people, he had so many close friends.

“The support we have had from everybody – everyone on Facebook and the flowers and cards – have been amazing and a real comfort and I can only thank everyone.

“Our Tom will be remembered as a fun-loving, happy chap, a lovely lad and a proper little soldier.”

Claire added: “Tom worried about everybody but himself, he was selfless. He spent most of his time worrying about his sister.

“Demi and Tom were very close, as they grew up they really bonded. He was always proud of his little sister and she was proud of him.”

The family added: “Our son was a brave young soldier, who is loved by his family, girlfriend and friends.

“We can’t believe you have been taken so soon from us. You will always be in our hearts for ever and ever.

“You would light up the room with your smile and bubbly personality. Our world will be a duller place without you. We are so proud of you son, of all you achieved, and we are grateful for every special thing you gave us. We will always love you Tom.”

The family’s next-door neighbour Paul Chester said: “Tom was a really nice lad. He was very polite and would do anything for you.”

This view was echoed by another neighbour, Mrs Carole Greenwood, of Sunny Heys West, who called at the house to leave a condolences card.

She said: “He was such a nice, polite and friendly lad. He had a nice smile and was very well mannered and he always had time to say hello.

“Tom was always smiling. His smile and his blond hair is how I will remember him.”