Fathers, sons, husbands and brothers: the Britons who have given their lives in the desert battlefields

Their hobbies included diving and rugby. Some were fathers, one was about to be for the second time, and another was due to be a best man in the summer. But for all their different backgrounds and lives, the 27 men, from Cornwall to Scotland, have become known as the British dead of the Iraqi campaign. Sixteen of them have been killed in accidents, five in combat and five from "friendly fire", and the nature of one death is unconfirmed. All are mourned.

A Royal Marine who died in combat in Iraq on Sunday was described by his family as one of the "brave souls who selflessly gave themselves for the freedom of all our nations". Christopher Maddison, 24, was "a man of character, honour and principles who always fought for those less able", according to his parents, Julie and Tony, from Scarborough.

He was a member of 539 Assault Squadron based at the Plymouth and died in a field hospital after coming under fire from a rocket-propelled grenade and heavy artillery rounds while checking a crossing point on the river Zubayr.

The same day a lance corporal, Shaun Brierley, 29, from Batley, who served with 212 Signals Squadron, was killed in a crash in Kuwait. His father, Peter, told the Yorkshire Post: "He enjoyed his job. When he joined the Army it was just after the last Gulf War so he knew what he was getting into."

Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, of the Household Cavalry regiment based at Windsor, died in a "friendly fire" incident on 28 March when his armoured vehicle was attacked by an American A-10 bomber. L Cpl Hull, a gunner, was a military instructor being considered for a posting to Sandhurst to train officers.

He was described by the squadron leader, Richard Taylor, as "highly regarded and immensely popular within the regiment, he will always be remembered for his smiley face and professional manner".

Two other British soldiers had died in another "blue-on-blue" incident three days earlier. Cpl Stephen Allbutt, 35, had served in Bosnia and Cyprus. His wife, Debi, told The Sentinel in Stoke-on-Trent that her "romantic" husband had doted on their two sons, Joshua, 14, and Connor, eight. Players from Allbutt's favourite team, Stoke City, signed a club shirt in his honour.

Killed in the same attack on a Challenger tank west of Basra was Trooper David Clarke, 19, from Littleworth, Staffordshire. He had been planning to get engaged to his girlfriend, Rachel Furniss, when he returned, his father, Jeffrey, said.

Sergeant Steven Roberts, 33, was killed in action on 24 March near Basra. Sgt Roberts had married his second wife, Samantha, a year ago. Born and bred in Cornwall, he was said to have flown the Cornish flag from his tank.

Killed on the same day near Zubayr was L Cpl Barry Stephen, 31, from Scone in Perthshire, a member of the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, and now to be honoured for his bravery. He left a widow, Shirley. Mark Hudson, a friend, said: "I take some comfort from knowing that he died ... doing the job he loved."

Luke Allsopp, 24, a sapper from north London, and Staff Sergeant Simon Cullingworth, 36, from Essex, were killed on 23 March after an attack on their vehicles in southern Iraq.

Sapper Allsopp had a son, Reece, two. The soldier's stepfather, Michael Pawsey, said: "He loved his job and would have died fighting." S Sgt Cullingworth, who had two children, was said by colleagues to be "extremely experienced".

Two British flight lieutenants, Kevin Main, 37, and Dave Williams, died when their Tornado aircraft was shot down by a US Patriot missile. Flt Lt Main, the pilot, was a perfectionist who always flew on missions with a poem, High Flight, in his pocket. The poem concludes: "Put out my hand and touched the face of God." His father Colin said: "That is what we believe Kevin has done."

The collision of two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters over the northern Arabian Gulf on 22 March led to the loss of six more British lives. The pilot, Lt Andrew Wilson, 36, based in Cornwall, was described by his widow, Sarah, as an "extremely kind and outgoing person".

Lt Marc Lawrence, 26, from Westgate, Kent, was said to have had a childhood interest in "sailing, diving and windsurfing and anything else connected with the sea". His sister Jayne described him as "a happy man with a ready smile".

At a memorial service on board HMS Ark Royal, the pair and the other four victims, Lt Philip West, 32, of Budock Water, near Falmouth, Cornwall, Lt Antony King, 35, of Helston, Cornwall, Lt James Williams, 28, from Falmouth, and Lt Philip Green, 31, were described as "full of life and spirit". Lt West, known as "Stretch" because of his 6ft 4in height, was due to marry in August.

The first British deaths in the conflict were on 21 March, when eight servicemen were killed as a US Sea Knight helicopter crashed south of the Kuwait border.

Captain Philip Guy, 29, from Bishopdale, North Yorkshire, was described by his widow, Helen, heavily pregnant with their second child, as a "perfect, loving, special" husband. The Royal Marine had served in Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Naval Rating Ian Seymour, 28, of Poole, Dorset, left a widow, Lianne, 27, and a three-year-old son, Beck. Colour Sgt John Cecil, of Plymouth, Devon, was married to Wendy. The couple had three children, Nicholas, Jodie, and Paige.

Major Jason Ward, 34, from Plymouth, was described by his family as "the epitome of a Royal Marine". In a statement they said: "Jason was truly an amazing man, an inspirational leader, dedicated professional and the best friend that you could wish for."

Sgt Les Hehir, 34, of Poole, Dorset, was the father of sons Oliver, five, and William, three. His wife, Sharon, said: "The loss we feel is really too much to bear. We will miss him terribly."

Also on the helicopter was Warrant Officer Mark Stratford of the Royal Marines, and Marine Sholto Hedenskog, 26, whose family came from South Africa. He was due to be the best man at a wedding in July. Another helicopter passenger was Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans, 24, of Llandudno, North Wales. A keen rugby player, he would be thrust into the Llandudno first team whenever he came home from leave. Club president Howie Roberts said: "He was a nice lad, quiet and unassuming but also tough." L Bdr Evans, who was known as "Welly", had joined up at the age of 17 and served in Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. His father, Gordon, who has another son serving in the same unit, said: "We are and always will be proud of him."

Two British servicemen killed have yet to be identified.