Serjeant Scott, 30, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was killed by an improvised explosive device near Sangin, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 5.

Hundreds of mourners yesterday gathered at Aske Hall Chapel, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, where Sjt Scott married his wife Ellen last year.

A tribute by Mrs Scott, read out on her behalf, described her husband as a "strong, kind and gentle man" and said she would remember him always for his smile and "big laugh".

She said Sjt Scott was a family man who would "live on" in their two young children, Ellie, three, and one-year-old Mikey.

"I will keep them both safe, my love, they will always be told how wonderful and brave their daddy was," Mrs Scott said in her tribute.

"My life will never be the same without Phil, but better and stronger for knowing him.

"Rest in peace my beautiful man, my protector, my love."

Sjt Scott – the spelling of Serjeant with a "j" is unique to The Rifles – lived in Edinburgh.

He was born in Malton and lived in Kilnwick Percy, Pocklington, as a youngster, leaving the area in his early teens to move to Richmond.

He joined the armed forces in 2001 and moved up through the ranks. He was made a serjeant in July of this year.

The gamekeeper's son from the Zetland Estate, Richmond, had completed operational tours of Northern Ireland and Iraq before his posting to Afghanistan.

He deployed to the war-torn country in September with C Company alongside his 28-year-old brother Robin, a Platoon Serjeant in A Company of the same regiment.

A career soldier, Sjt Scott hoped to join the Special Forces on his return from the tour.

He was known as "Scotty" to his friends, and dozens of tributes flooded in following news of his death. He was described by comrades, friends and family as "brave", "charming" and "a natural born soldier" who had been "destined for greatness".

His body was flown home the week after the tragedy along with five other soldiers who had lost their lives when a rogue Afghan police officer turned his rifle on them.