A soldier from the West Midlands, described as the finest of his generation by the Ministry of Defence, has been killed in Afghanistan.

Captain Sean Dolan from the 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, died following an operation with US and Afghan troops in Helmand province on Saturday.

The 40-year-old soldier from Rowley Regis was observing Taliban fighters from a vantage point when he was killed by a mortar round.

Captain Dolan, a father-of-one, received a Mention in Dispatches in the 1990s for helping arrest terrorist suspects in Northern Ireland and had recently been awarded a Meritorious Service Medal.

The soldier and his family were huge Wolves fans and before he left his previous role fellow soldiers played him a video message from then Molineux favourite Paul Ince.

His colleagues had arranged for Ince to send Captain Dolan, known as Dollar, a personal video message and a signed team shirt to congratulate him on his achievement.

Captain Dolan was based in Chester and had moved from the West Midlands to Ellesmere Port with his wife Mitch and son Ashley to be nearer to his base.

He first joined the army in 1985 and served in Bosnia, the US, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kenya and Belize.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Westley, The 1st Battalion’s Commanding Officer, said: “This is simply the biggest blow that I have suffered in 23 years service and I know that all ranks of 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment and all that knew Sean, will be feeling the same.

“He was the complete man and an unsurpassed military talent.

“Strong, intelligent and immensely fit, he was the consummate professional and had a work ethic that served as a model for everyone who was privileged enough to serve with him.” The Ministry of Defence today described him as “undoubtedly regarded by all who had the honour of serving with him as the finest soldier of his generation”.

Captain Dolan was one of two soldiers killed at the weekend in Afghanistan. The other was Sergeant Dave Wilkinson, 33, of the 19 Regiment Royal Artillery.