TRIBUTES from around the world have poured in for a proud

Westcountry Royal Marine who died when a Land Rover overturned

during a training exercise.

Jamie Hutton, 23, of Plymouth-based 42 Commando, was killed

during the tragic incident at Lulworth Firing Range, Dorset,

last Tuesday. Another man is in hospital with serious

injuries.

Marine Hutton's family, friends and colleagues yesterday

paid tribute to a young serviceman who was proud to be a Marine

and was “hard as nails but with a soft heart”.

More than 700 people from all over the world have joined a

memorial page on networking site Facebook in honour of Marine

Hutton.

Many mourners have posted tributes and pictures in memory of

their friend on the site.

Marine Hutton's father Jim – a serving brigadier – his

mother Sally and brother Ewan issued a statement, which read:

“Our lovely lad, full of the joys of life, irrepressibly

vibrant, kindness personified and friend to all has gone – but

he will never be forgotten.

“That he packed so much into his short life is a lesson to

us all. He lived at full throttle, always on the move, dreaming

up his next plan.

“Failure was never an option for Jamie; but when it came, he

just shrugged and moved on with a smile. He saw positive from

every negative and his charm offensive never disengaged.

“He was a proud Marine, hard as nails but with a soft heart;

we all wanted a part of him, and he gave it gladly. We have

shed many a tear since his passing but we see and hear him

everywhere.

“He touched so many people and we are all glad for that. See

ya pal.”

The incident, involving a vehicle carrying five people, is

being investigated by the Army's Land Accident Investigation

Team and the Royal Military Police.

Marine Hutton joined the Corps in 2005 at the age of 20 and

won the Charnock Shooting Trophy during his training, earning

himself the nickname of “The Colonel”.

He joined K Company 42 Commando in May 2006, serving in

Gereshk, Nowzad and Kajaki in Afghanistan. On his return he

excelled on a Royal Marines sniping course and was requested to

remain at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone

to instruct other snipers before returning to Recce Troop.

Marine Hutton's commanding officer said he will be greatly

missed. Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Stickland, of 42 Commando,

said: “Marine Jamie Hutton was the type of dynamic serviceman

and personality every organisation needs – a surfer, a rugby

player, a friend to all and an outstanding operator.

“He will be hugely missed, not only by the tight-knit band

of warriors that are Recce Troop but by the unit as a whole.

The world was at his feet – marked out as a man for the future

with his new-found expertise as a sniper and gaining command of

an expert Recce team. His passion for his profession and his

lust for life were infectious to all. 'The Colonel' was a force

beyond his years.”

Fellow Marines have also been paying tribute to their

friend.

Marine Nick Taylor, 20, from Tewkesbury, said: “Jamie, the

Colonel, was the archetypal irrepressible marine. He

exemplified cheerfulness in the face of adversity, never down,

never feeling sorry for himself. He would take any situation by

the horns and tackle it full on. He would always step up to the

mark when required.”

Marine Jim Down, 23, from Birmingham, said: “After serving

with Jamie 'The Colonel' Hutton in K Company in Afghanistan

prior to joining Recce Troop, I became good mates with him

despite his constant mickey-taking of my accent. He was always

cheerful and a good laugh even in the worst situations. Nothing

ever seemed to phase him.”

L Cpl Chris Samuel, 25, from Shrewsbury and LCpl John

Bentley, 27, from Leicester, said: “After living with Jamie

'Colonel' Hutton for over a year a number of things come to

mind: full of life, loud, and easily the biggest character in

the flat. He never had a bad word to say, never let anything

get to him and always saw the good in people. He was a great

friend and even better colleague. He will be greatly missed

from all our lives.”

The Facebook site describes the family's difficult

experiences in the days following his death.

A news update on the site reads: “We went down to Lulworth

[on Thursday] and the scene of Jamie's passing. It was an

innocuous piece of gravel track with a small camber and ditch

by its side. Nothing to look at, yet it has touched the lives

of hundreds of people. So sad.”

Tributes on the site include one from Jack Clouston, from

Australia, who wrote: “I was lucky enough to play rugby with

Jamie when he came to Canberra and played with Easties for a

season. We had some great times together often ending with

Jamie cooking the biggest breakfasts I have ever seen. My

thoughts are with your family, and you will be greatly

missed.”

Matt Hoey, of Portsmouth wrote: “The troop is not the same

without you. We will do our duty in Afghanistan, in your

name.

“Take care my friend, watch over the lads. Always in our

thoughts.”