"Being a Royal Marine was Steven?s life and growing up it was all he wanted to do. He was proud to wear the uniform and served his country as the consummate professional. He died doing the job he so loved. He was strong, vibrant, generous, passionate, full of life and he certainly lived life to the full. Our World will be a bleaker place without him, his infectious laughter and fantastic sense of humour. Mere words do not begin to convey the deep grief and painful heartbreak his untimely death has brought to his shattered family and friends. Steven may have been a ?hoofin? bootneck? to his colleagues but to his beautiful boys, Ryan and Callum he was the very best Daddy in the World. He will live on through his sons and those who love him so much will never forget him and the sacrifice he made. Steven leaves behind him his partner Kate, sons Ryan and Callum, parents Barbara, John, Derek and Sue, brother Neil, Nan and the many friends whose lives he touched.
"RIP Sergeant Steven Darbyshire. Fall Out."

"Sergeant Steven Darbyshire was one of life?s great characters. A proper Lancashire Lad, he typically had the wit, the cunning and the tenacity down to a fine art. I knew him to be a charismatic, loyal, determined and dedicated Sergeant with an irrepressible and infectious sense of humour. The last time I saw him he was covered in thick mud having just fallen into an irrigation ditch, but he gave me a beaming smile and in the manner that only he could deliver, illuminatingly described his misfortune to all. He never took life too seriously, but he cared passionately for the lives of others. He was a selfless, honest and extraordinarily courageous leader who thrived in the role of Troop Sergeant. He inspired and encouraged, he got the very best from his men, his band of brothers and they loved him for it. He was a proud father, a magnificent leader and definitely a 'Saint'. He tragically died on patrol in Southern Sangin doing the job he loved, with the men he so ardently cared for. Our thoughts and prayers are with his partner Kate, his two young sons, his family and his friends. He was a great man and will be sorely missed by all in 40 Commando. Sergeant Steven Darbyshire was, and will always be, a Royal Marine Commando."

"Sergeant Steven Darbyshire, commonly known as 'Darbs' to all within Alpha Company, was an excellent Troop Sergeant and an outstanding Royal Marine in general. He joined Alpha Company in the latter stages of training for our deployment to Afghanistan, taking over the newly formed 3 Troop. I was immediately impressed with how he pulled his team together and we all soon came to love his laconic manner and quiet understatement, as even whilst under fire he came across as calm, collected and determined. Most tellingly, he had a sharp and well developed sense of humour which, although he sometimes tried to suppress, came through at all times. He led by example, and he was a man in whom you could find great confidence and comfort even at the hardest of times. He was at the heart of 3 Troop, the perfect foil to his Troop Commander, providing wisdom and balance to all of the marines in his Patrol Base. He was a true Bootneck; he loved and protected his men; he courageously took the lead and he always knew how to get the best out of people. Loyal, is an oft used term to describe men; however, in Darbs' case it explains everything you need to know about the man. He died a soldier?s death, doing the job he loved and with the men he loved.
Alpha Company has lost a true warrior, a man that I can say I have had the honour to have commanded and served with. We now look to the future, to repay our debt to him and to take his memory forward; he will forever be an 'Alpha Saint'. At this time our thoughts and prayers are with his partner Kate and with his children Ryan and Callum."