This is an online tribute to David Kirkness. Lance Corporal David Alan Kirkness from the 3 RIFLES Reconnaissance Platoon, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 15 December 2009.

Lance Corporal David Kirkness was killed following a suicide improvised explosive device blast on a route into central Sangin, northern Helmand, Afghanistan.

At the time their platoon was manning a vehicle checkpoint alongside an Afghan National Army section in order to provide reassurance and security to the local population.

David Kirkness was an air-conditioning engineer before joining the Army and, following training at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, he joined 3rd Battalion The Rifles (3 RIFLES) in Edinburgh in March 2004. He attended the Junior Non-Commissioned Officers' cadre in 2005 and was promoted to Lance Corporal in March 2006.

He completed a close protection course in 2008 and, in early 2009, a two-month course to learn Pashto, the native tongue in much of Helmand province.

He completed the highly demanding two-month sniper course before deploying to Afghanistan with the 3 RIFLES Battle Group in October 2009.

Lance Corporal Kirkness's parents, Christopher and Margaret Kirkness, and his daughter Brooke Kirkness, aged three, made the following statement:

"We would like to thank family and friends for their support over these difficult times. If you knew David, you had to love him - it was impossible not to. And in David's own words, 'If you didn't know me, hard luck'. He will always be in our hearts."

This is an online memorial to honour the life of David Kirkness, his achievements and the ultimate sacrifice he made. May he rest in peace.