THE family of fallen soldier Mark Marshall have spoken of their "immense pride" at being presented a special award to recognise their loss.

Speaking for the first time since the 29-year-old was killed in February, Mark's family said the serviceman had achieved his "ultimate goal" by serving in Afghanistan.

And at a moving ceremony yesterday, they accepted the Elizabeth Cross medal — a new award for families of soldiers killed in action.

Scores of Mark's comrades watched as the Duke of Gloucester handed the medal and a scroll signed by the Queen to the soldier's mother Lynn, sister Jo and brother Alex.

Mark, a police community support officer in the Countess Wear area of the city, who served as a solider with Exeter's TA regiment 6th Battalion The Rifles, died while on patrol in Helmand Province, in Afghanistan, in February.

He was leading his comrades while scouring the ground for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) when he was killed.

His sister Jo Dalton, 32, spoke to the Echo at the ceremony at Willsworthy Camp, on Dartmoor.

"To be presented with this award is a huge thing for us," she said. "It is an emotional day though because we see the other soldiers here and we can't help but look for Mark.

"We miss him so much, he would so proud. We need a body to put the medals on and to put his hat back on. He needs to be here at this ceremony — just not under these circumstances."

She added: "Mark was destined to be in the Army — he loved what he did. And he was already talking about going on a second tour of Afghanistan before he had started his first.

"Afghanistan was the ultimate goal for Mark. If we said to him, 'what if something happens to you', he would say 'it's my job'."

Lieutenant Colonel Tim House, commanding officer of 6 Rifles, described the Elizabeth Cross as a "wonderful" initiative.

"Today is very much where we acknowledge the loss suffered by the families," he said. "Rifleman Marshall died while at the front of a patrol looking for IEDs. He made the ultimate sacrifice.

"The families of these servicemen are part of the family. The sacrifice they have made is fully recognised by us.

"I think the Elizabeth Cross is a wonderful, fabulous initiative that the Queen has given her name to.

"I hope it goes some way to helping the family. I have presented one of these awards and I was immediately struck by the extent to which they appreciated the acknowledgement."

Seven months after he was killed, Jo said the family are still devastated by Mark's death.

"Some days you get a roll in your stomach and a cold sweat when you think 'I'm never going to see my brother again'," she said. "Other days you know it's happened and you're kind of calm."