A ROYAL Marine killed in Afghanistan will be remembered for “throwing his heart and soul” into village life in Dorset.

Sgt Luke Taylor, aged 33, was killed alongside a fellow servicemen in an attack by a rogue Afghan soldier at the weekend.

The Union flag was flying at half-mast yesterday outside Bournemouth Crown and County Courts, where his wife works as a clerk to the family court.

Luke’s body was repatriated yesterday afternoon.

And in his home village of Burton, parish council chairman Judy Jamieson remembered him as a popular member of the community. “He was somebody that threw his heart and soul into village life,” she said.

Luke was part of the group the village dubbed the Burton Boys – a band of men who would help arrange village events.

“Luke and the team would each year help us with our Burton Veterans’ Day, putting up gazebos and things like that,” said Cllr Jamieson.

“I’m pretty sure he’s the only serving Royal Marine that ever paraded with the veterans in Burton.

“He was always one of the first to volunteer. He was just an amazing guy and will be missed so sorely. We’re all devastated in the village and our heart goes out to his wife Nicky and son Roan.”

Luke was a senior non-commissioned officer who had only been in Afghanistan for four weeks when he was shot at the main entrance to Lashkar Gah Main Operating Base in Helmand Province.

His commanding officer has remembered him for his “highest professional standards” and “completely disarming and relaxed personality”.

Cllr Jamieson added: “He contributed to village life and he almost summed up what our Veterans’ and Armed Forces’ Day is about. It’s thanking them not only for serving their country but also for the contribution they make when they hopefully come back and resume village life.

“He will be very much remembered when we have our Armed Forces and Veterans’ Day.”