TRIBUTES have been paid to a Didcot bomb disposal expert who died in Afghanistan on the final day of his five-month tour.

Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, of the Royal Logistics Corps, died instantly on Saturday after a bomb exploded in the Sangin region of Helmand Province.

Soldiers at Vauxhall Barracks, in Foxhall Road, where 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment is based, have been coming to terms with the news.

On Monday, the troops held a minute’s silence in memory of Staff Sgt Schmid and lowered the Royal Logistics Corps’ flag to half-mast.

It is the third death the regiment has suffered during operations in Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Bex, Staff Sgt Schmid’s commanding officer, described him as a ‘brilliant operator’ and a ‘superb soldier’, while another high-ranking officer said he was the bravest man he had ever met.

Didcot mayor Margaret Turner said: “It’s just dreadful to lose another life out there. We send his family all our condolences.”

Speaking from Helmand Province, Lt Col Bex, Commanding Officer of Counter IED Task Force, said: “Staff Sgt Schmid stood proud among some formidable men serving here in Afghanistan — the tag ‘legend’ is frequently bestowed nowadays, but in his case it is rightly justified. His courage was not displayed in a fleeting moment of time — he stared death in the face on a daily basis.

“Many soldiers and ordinary Afghans owe their lives to Staff Sgt Schmid’s gallant actions and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.” On Saturday, Staff Sgt Schmid was commanding a bomb team dealing with a confirmed device.

The 30-year-old was conducting a manual route search to clear devices and was defusing the device when it went off.

He was married and lived with wife Christina and step-son Laird, in Winchester. Christina said: “Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless five-month tour. He was my best friend and soul mate. The pain of losing him is overwhelming. I take comfort knowing he saved countless lives with his hard work. I am so proud of him.”

During his tour, Staff Sgt Schmid attended 41 tasks, made safe 64 IEDs and attended 11 finds of bomb-making equipment.

Lt Col Robert Thomson, Commanding Officer 2 Rifles Battle Group, said: “Staff Sgt Oz Schmid was simply the bravest and most courageous man I have ever met.

“Under relentless IED and small arms attacks, he stood taller than the tallest.”

In the House of Commons, MP Ed Vaizey led tributes to Staff Sgt Schmid during Defence Questions.

Speaking to the Herald later, he said: “This is a tragic loss of someone who clearly was an exceptional soldier and my thoughts are with his friends and family.”

Former Didcot mayor and town, district and county councillor, Tony Harbour, said: “He was a fantastic bloke. I only met him through the welcome home parade as mayor in December 2008 and became drinking buddies at subsequent functions held at the sergeants’ mess. It was an honour to have known him and to be able to call him a friend.

“He will sorely missed by everyone who knew him. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

The death of Staff Sgt Schmid follows that of Warrant Officer Gary O’Donnell, 40, from the same regiment at the barracks in Foxhall Road.

WO O’Donnell died from blast wounds last September after a device he was trying to defuse exploded in Musa Qala, Helmand province.

WO O’Donnell was twice awarded the George Medal by the Ministry of Defence for extreme bravery — the second time posthumously in March.

Captain Dan Shepherd, 28, of 11 OED Regiment, was killed in July following an explosion in Helmand Province. He was based at Northolt.