The widow of a Shropshire-based soldier killed in Afghanistan wept as she saw her husband repatriated to the UK, a year after losing their baby daughter.

Lance Corporal Stephen McKee, who was in 1st Battallion, The Royal Irish Regiment, based at Tern Hill near Market Drayton, died in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device on March 9.

Family and friends of the Northern Irish soldier wore bunches of shamrock as they lined the High Street in Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, to watch the cortege pass through the town on St Patrick’s Day. yesterday

Lance Corporal Stephen McKee

The return of the 27-year-old’s body, on the day of the Irish patron saint, was described as “significant”, “sad” and “proud”.

Carley McKee said in statement that he would always be her hero, and described him as “the best husband, father, son and brother anyone could ask for”.

Yesterday her grandfather, Dominic Fay, 61, said Lance Corporal McKee was a “true gentleman”.

“He was just a good human being, and I know lots of people say lots of things, and I’ve listened to many, many school teachers talking about when he was a pupil, but I can truly say from my heart I found him to be an absolute gentleman and kind,” Mr Fay said.

Lance Corporal McKee and his wife lost their baby a year ago this weekend.

“We thought then that things could never get as bad as what we all went through last year for them, and then for this to happen,” Mr Fay said.

“My granddaughter’s 21 and nobody of her tender years should have to carry the burden that she is carrying with herself at the moment.”

Lance Corporal McKee’s body was flown into RAF Lyneham where a private ceremony was held for his family before the cortege passed through Wootton Bassett.

It was announced on Wednesday that the town will be renamed Royal Wootton Bassett later this year in recognition of its contribution to showing respect for fallen soldiers.

The hearse carrying Lance Corporal McKee’s coffin, draped in a Union flag, stopped at the war memorial, allowing family members to place flowers on the vehicle’s roof.

As well as his wife, Lance Corporal McKee leaves behind his parents Heather and Bobby, his brothers Michael, Gareth and Robert, and his sisters Kelly and Rebecca.