Lance Corporal Keys was the youngest of the soldiers to die Read this story in Welsh

Lance Corporal Thomas Keys, 20, was one of six Royal Military Policeman gunned down in a police station in the southern town of Al Majar al-Kabir.

The deaths marked the heaviest loss in a single day for the US-led coalition forces since the first days of the conflict.

In his eulogy to Mr Keys, platoon commander Captain James Hibbert said: "Tom was an impressive guy - quietly self assured, frankly honest, fiercely loyal and ultimately strong.

He was universally admired and respected by all ranks. The lads would always refer to him as a 'top bloke', the girls as 'an absolute darling' Captain James Hibbert

"As a soldier and a policeman he was the consummate professional. He gave his all in everything he did and worked hard to get the job done no matter how menial the task.

"He wore his para wings with quiet pride and adored the camaraderie that can only be found in the army.

"He was universally admired and respected by all ranks. The lads would always refer to him as a 'top bloke', the girls as 'an absolute darling'."

A few days away from his 21st birthday, the soldier whose family live in Llanuwchllyn, near Bala in Gwynedd, was the youngest to die.

The Army has described the attack as "murder", and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has vowed that Britain would never give up the hunt for their killers.

Full military honours were being given to Lance Corp Key's funeral at St John's Church in Barmouth at 1400 BST on Monday followed by burial at St Mary's Church in Llanaber.

The funeral cortege passed the family's converted barn

The funeral cortege began in Bala, calling at the family home - a converted barn at Llanuwchllyn where they moved from Solihull in the West Midlands two years ago - before continuing to the church in Barmouth.

Members of the Royal Military Police formed a bearer's party and provided a gun salute at the private ceremony at the graveside in Llanaber.

Lance Corp Keys was in Iraq helping to retrain local people following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.

The group of military policemen were starting a routine patrol when they were apparently attacked, herded into a police station and killed.

The attack was said to be in retaliation for the deaths of a number of Iraqis in a violent demonstration.

The Army has described the attack as "murder", and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has vowed that Britain would never give up the hunt for their killers.

Meanwhile, the young soldier's father has demanded to know why they were not given more support.

Reg Keys, who with wife Sally also has another son Richard serving in the Army, said: "To think that someone could put a bullet into that healthy, young, beautiful son of ours - it's just totally, totally unbelievable," he said after the death.