"Scotty was the perfect son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend who would do anything for anybody no matter who they were, always caring and respectful. He loved his family and lit up the room with his smile. He had a wicked sense of humour and was loyal, caring and brave, never showing pain. He will leave a void in everyone's lives who knew him that can never be filled."

"Marine Scott Taylor was everything I needed in a Bootneck; proud but not arrogant, loyal but still independent, courageous but not foolhardy, he was an outstanding Marine. Brave, strong, bright and physically very fit, he was an utterly selfless man who was often unassuming, preferring instead to let his actions speak for him - and they spoke with power and tumult. He was a giant in the gymnasium, a consummate professional in the field and a true mate to his friends. He died on patrol in southern Sangin as point man, leading the men who he had grown to love like brothers. Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother and father, his brother Marine Liam Taylor and all his friends and family. He will be sadly missed by all in 40 Commando. Marine Scotty Taylor was, and will always be, a Royal Marine Commando."

"Marine Scott Taylor or 'Scotty' to his mates was an outstanding Marine who demonstrated on a daily basis both immense courage and determination. Due to his maturity and diligent nature he had been selected to be the lead man for his section, with the responsibility for clearing a safe path for the remainder of the Marines in the patrol. This task is not only physically demanding but mentally exhausting; in this he excelled and I have no doubt that he saved the lives of his comrades on countless occasions. Although he had only been in the Royal Marines for a short period he had already made a lasting impact on everyone he had met. On first impressions he came across as quiet and unassuming, however this hid the fact that he was extremely driven; whether it was in the gym, where he outshone most people in the company, or in the jungle where he demonstrated superior soldiering skills. When asked what his ambition in the Royal Marines was, he replied 'to become a sniper and then in time a Regimental Sergeant Major. For many this would be nothing more than a pipe dream but for Scotty it was not difficult to envisage him achieving these goals. I can say without any hesitation that he was a natural leader and that a glittering career has been cut short. Nevertheless, he died doing what he wanted to do, leading from the front and setting an example that the rest of us must now try to emulate. It is difficult to quantify the degree of loss that will be felt by Alpha Company; our pain is insignificant when compared to that of his parents, Stephen and Jayne, as well as his brother Liam who is also a serving Royal Marine. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this most distressing of times."