Friends lead tributes to Scott as 'true grit' hailed by commander

THE comrades of an Edinburgh soldier found dead after he went missing in southern Afghanistan have paid tribute to him - as his commander said he had "true grit".

• Scott McLaren was highly thought of by colleagues and commanders

Highlander Scott McLaren of 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, disappeared from a Nato checkpoint in central Helmand province on Monday, sparking a massive 17-hour search.

The 20-year-old, from the Sighthill area, was later found dead.

A statement on behalf of his family - parents James and Ann, sister Kirsty and brothers James and Ross - read: "We are deeply saddened by the news that our dear son Scott was killed in Afghanistan. We were extremely proud of Scott. He loved the Army and despite his short time in 4 SCOTS had made many friends.

"We would like to thank everybody for their support and kindness at this time."

His death came as a "huge blow" to those serving alongside him, colleagues said today.

Highlander Jamal John, who shared a room with Highlander McLaren, known as Scotty, for seven months before deployment, said: "He was a very quiet guy to start with, but once you got to know him, he was a fun person to be with."

Major James Cross said: "Highlander McLaren's death has come as a huge blow to all of us who have had the privilege of serving alongside him."

Highlander McLaren, who was temporarily attached to 1st Battalion The Rifles Battlegroup, went missing in the early hours of the morning, but was later found dead with gunshot wounds.

There is confusion surrounding the exact circumstances of his death.

One report suggested he had left the checkpoint where he was stationed to go swimming with Afghan soldiers.

General Sayed Malook, commander of Afghan forces in Helmand, said he understood that Highlander McLaren had gone swimming in a canal and later drowned.

Meanwhile, Taliban commander Maulvi Seraj, and a provincial councillor, Abdul Ahad Helmandwal, both claimed that Highlander McLaren been shot dead in Kopak, a village near his base.

Helmandwal said he understood that Highlander McLaren had come face to face with a Taliban commander called Mullah Hekmat, and was shot dead by his bodyguards.

General Malook said he'd been told that his body was paraded by the Taliban.

Some reports suggested he drowned before he was found, and others that he was captured alive and shot dead.

The Ministry of Defence would not comment on these claims, and could provide no further details, and senior UK defence sources have reportedly dismissed claims as speculation.One said: "Who'd go for a dip in the middle of the night on their own in an area littered with IEDs?"

Highlander McLaren, an "extremely accomplished" runner known to his friends as F1, joined the Army in August 2009, but served less than two years before his death.

On Sunday - a day before he went missing - he and colleagues were deployed to a checkpoint where they were helping to hold and secure a "vital" bridge in the northern area of Nahr-e-Saraj.

Lieutenant Colonel Alastair Aitken MBE said: "Quiet and reserved, he had the true grit and determination of a traditional Highlander."