Rifleman Andrew Fentiman, 23, of Cambridge, died after coming under fire while on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand Province, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

On November 2 he wrote an internet blog to let friends know that he had arrived in Afghanistan.

"We are still waiting on these new body armour and helmets that were promised to us," he wrote in the blog, entitled "Hello From Afghan".

"You would have seen the story splashed all over the news, they said they would be ready for us but we hope they will arrive soon..."

The MoD announced in September that 5000 sets of new helmets and body armour were about to be shipped to Afghanistan for use by frontline troops.

Officials said the new Osprey assault armour was less bulky and easier to move in than existing armour and the updated Mark 7 helmet was more stable when fitted with night vision equipment and made it easier to fire a weapon.

Rifleman Fentiman was serving with the 7th Battalion The Rifles and had put his career as a sales manager at software firm Team Studio, based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on hold so he could deploy to Afghanistan as part of the 3 Rifles Battle Group, said the MoD.

Team Studio issued a statement, saying: "We were absolutely devastated to hear the news that Andrew had been killed while on a patrol in Afghanistan, and would like to express our deepest sympathy to his family.

"Andrew was a remarkable young man who will be missed by his colleagues and friends at Team Studio.

"He had a fantastic sense of humour and it was a pleasure to work with him. We are grateful for the time that we got to share with Andrew."

MoD officials said Rifleman Fentiman was known as "Fen". His family - parents Kevin and Lynda, brother Adam and sister Elizabeth - live in Cambridge.

He studied mechanical engineering at Leicester University after going to school at Impington Village College in Cambridge.

Officials said that, after two years in the East Midlands University Officer Training Corps, Rifleman Fentiman joined TA battalion 7 Rifles, as a potential officer, in 2007.

"It was an honour and a great act of commitment that he chose to accompany us and share the burden," said Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, commander of 3 Rifles Battle Group.

"A real ambassador for the great British public that supports us so well, he was up for the challenge and gave of himself selflessly."

The number of UK troops who have died since operations began in Afghanistan in 2001 stands at 234 - 97 have died this year.

An MoD spokeswoman said Rifleman Fentiman would have been provided with full body armour in Afghanistan.

She could not confirm whether he had received the new armour by the time of his death but stressed that it provided the same level of protection as the older version.

Meanwhile, a British Army bomb disposal expert killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan was remembered by his wife as a “true hero”.

Corporal Loren Marlton-Thomas, 28, from 33 Engineer Regiment, died while clearing a route in Gereshk in Helmand Provincey.

His senior officers paid tribute to his courage in carrying out one of the most dangerous jobs for UK troops in Afghanistan.

Cpl Marlton-Thomas’s wife Nicola described him as “Army barmy”, adding: “He did the job he loved and paid the ultimate price for his friends, comrades and country.

“We are proud to say we knew and loved him. A true hero in our eyes - you may be gone but you will never ever be forgotten.”