A SOLDIER killed in Afghanistan was a former Weymouth College student.

Lance Corporal Jonathan McKinlay of 1 Rifles was killed by enemy gunfire while on patrol in a village near the checkpoint where he was based.

His sister Rebecca, speaking at her home in Stonechat Close in Littlemoor, Weymouth, said how she loved her brother and said he used to attend Weymouth College one day per week.

She said the father of three – who was sent to Afghanistan in June as a casualty replacement – lived with his family in Blandford.

His wife Lisa also told of the tragic loss of the 33-year-old – affectionately known as “JJ” and “Commander Meerkat McKinlay”.

She said: “He was a loving husband, son, brother, son-in-law and father to Megan, Ollie and Piper.

“He was a true friend to others and a loving husband, a real joker and my one in a million.”

LCpl McKinlay’s mother, Valerie, who lives in Pimperne, near Blandford added: “Rebecca and I are devastated. As are the rest of the family.

“Jonathan was dearly loved by us all and by his many friends around the world.”

LCpl McKinlay died from small arms fire last Wednesday near Checkpoint Chaabak in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

He had previously served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and had also seen action in Afghanistan before his current tour.

The former student was born in Darlington, County Durham before his family moved south.

He joined the Army in 1996 and qualified as a mortar fire controller and was with B Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles.

The lance corporal’s death comes after the death of another former Weymouth College student, Royal Marine James Wright, who died in Helmand province on Friday, August 5. Marine Wright, who was 22, was given a full military funeral in Weymouth last month.

An army spokesman said of LCpl McKinlay: “He was killed by a burst of small arms fire while on patrol with his team and members of the Afghan Uniform Police (AUP) in a village near to his checkpoint.”

He added: “An outgoing and friendly commander and very much a ‘doer’ about his checkpoint – he had time for everyone he met.”

Corporal Chris Hardy, a friend of LCpl McKinlay’s from Bournemouth, said: “He was a true hero who I am honoured to have served with over the years; a friend with so many memories that I won’t forget. Jon was like an older brother that I could always depend on.”

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