They were twins and, by coincidence, corporals in the same battalion. On Friday they should have been celebrating their 24th birthday. But it was not to be; Will Rigby sat at the bedside of his brother, John, in an Iraq field hospital and watched him die.

Corporal John Rigby had been fatally wounded by a roadside bomb near Basra Palace in southern Iraq that morning, and was named by the Ministry of Defence yesterday as the 153rd British serviceman whose life had been claimed by the conflict.

Will, described by friends as his brother’s lifetime companion and soulmate, will accompany the body back to the family home in Rye, East Sussex, where their parents, sisters and John’s girlfriend, to whom he was expected to propose, are grieving at their loss.

Corporal Rigby was on patrol with the eight men of his section, providing top cover from the hatch of his armoured vehicle, when the bomb exploded. He was the third member of the 4th Battalion The Rifles to die in Iraq in little more than a month.

Two weeks before his death he had learnt that he was to be promoted to sergeant, having achieved the highest score on the promotion board for any corporal in the regiment.

Encouraged by friends, he had been expected to propose to Jessica Varney, his girlfriend, on her 21st birthday next May.

Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Sanders, Corporal Rigby’s commanding officer, said that he and the battalion were “utterly heartbroken” at the death of an outstanding young soldier.

“I count myself blessed to have commanded and known John,” Colonel Sanders said. “He was the sort of man and soldier any commanding officer would cherish. He was a warrior — tough and fierce, swift and bold. And he was an astonishingly dedicated and charismatic leader.”

Corporal Rigby had been an impressive figure across the 700-strong battalion, although he himself commanded only eight men. Like all the best soldiers he had inspired love, devotion and fierce loyalty in his men. He was known as Goldenballs to fellow soldiers, who compared his battlefield skills to those of David Beckham on the football field.

“They idolised him and would follow him anywhere,” Colonel Sanders said. “Others fought hard to get into his section, seeing that John cared deeply, was calm and decisive under fire and kept his men safe. John’s family life mattered more to him than anything, and his unique qualities as a man came from the wonderful, loving and stable upbringing he and Will enjoyed.”

Colonel Sanders disclosed a special bond between himself and his star corporal. “He was just great company and, as fellow Spurs supporters, we had plenty of adversity to share, particularly in what seemed like a battalion of Arsenal fans.”

Major John Wakelin, Corporal Rigby’s company commander, said: “It is typical of him that he died protecting his riflemen. His lads were saved from injury by their vehicle as he selflessly provided top cover from the vehicle hatch.”

In a statement yesterday Corporal Rigby’s family said: “John was a cherished and devoted son and brother, a talented, hardworking and successful soldier, popular with his peers and across all ranks alike.”

Friends in East Sussex told yesterday how he and Jessica had been dating since April last year, how they had been introduced to each other’s families and friends and how they made the perfect couple.

— A British soldier was killed and four others were injured by an explosion in southern Afghanistan yesterday. The blast happened as a “Snatch” Land Rover escorted a military team to survey the site for a new road project in Helmand province. The soldier, from the 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, was later declared dead.

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