The brother of fallen Sheppey soldier Daniel Holkham has named his new baby son after the sibling he calls his hero.

Matt Holkham and Jasmine Sellen welcomed Harrison Daniel Holkham into the world on Friday, August 8.

He was born at Medway Maritime Hospital at 8.15pm, weighing 6lb 8oz and the couple were able to return home to Imperial Drive, Warden, the following day.

Rifleman Daniel was killed aged 19 while on duty in Afghanistan in March 2010 and the new parents decided it would be a fitting tribute to name their first child after him, something Matt had always thought about doing.

The 25-year-old described his son as handsome and content and says he has been very well behaved so far, not keeping them up in the night too much.

He also joked he’s never seen his brother Andrew so much as he is loving being an uncle.

“I’m ecstatic and we are over the moon,” Matt said. "Jasmine has done a fantastic job.

“I wanted to name him in memory of Daniel. People are named for various reasons and my son has been named after my hero – it will keep his name alive.”

Former Minster College pupil Jasmine, 22, says she is really enjoying motherhood and that Harrison is being very good.

Matt, Daniel and their younger brother Andrew all served in Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion the Rifles.

Their dad Rodney, who is now a grandparent for the first time, is absolutely delighted with the family’s new arrival.

He said: “They are both healthy, Jas and the baby, which is the main thing.

“It’s fantastic and I’m over the moon. I think Daniel as a middle name is perfect.

“He would have been a fantastic uncle and would have loved every minute of it as Andrew does.

“He was always that way inclined anyway – he loved kids so he would have loved being an uncle.”