THE Government's Defence Secretary Des Browne has paid tribute to a former Kent schoolboy who became the 150th British soldier to die in Iraq.

Corporal Rodney Wilson, 30, was killed as he saved the life of a wounded colleague.

A minute’s silence was held during a service in the chapel at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School at Dover where Cpl Wilson was a pupil from 1990 to 1993. He boarded in Wolfe House.

It has been revealed that Cpl Wilson was engaged to be married.

His patrol was part of a search and detention operation led by 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh when they came under attack from small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades on Thursday, June 7.

Some of his colleagues were hit, and, despite the heavy fire, Cpl Wilson had stepped in to evacuate one of the wounded when he himself was hit.

He was flown by helicopter to the field hospital at the British base at Basra Air Station, but later died.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said Cpl Wilson had laid down his own life to save a fellow Rifleman.

"It is a sad blow to lose such a courageous and gallant soldier, but Corporal Wilson did not fall in vain. The Rifles’ operation succeeded, and they have put a large cache of weapons beyond the insurgents’ use. His family are in my thoughts."

Cpl Wilson's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Sanders, said: "He was one of the outstanding Rifleman of his generation, a charismatic and inspiring figure with immense natural talent and great strength of character."