Baby born on late dad's birthday

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The partner of a Royal Welsh corporal killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq has given birth to their son on what would have been the soldier's 29th birthday.

Cpl Paul Joszko's partner Kayleigh, 18, from Abercynon, Rhondda Cynon Taf, had baby Iestyn Jay six months after his father was killed in Basra.

The couple's second son was born on 30 November in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital at Llantrisant.

The soldier's sister Maria said it was a "very,very emotional day".

Cpl Joszko was killed with two other soldiers from 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh (The Royal Regiment of Wales) in June after stepping from an armoured vehicle.

He and his partner already had a son Dylan, who was one in August, and she was three months pregnant with their second son, who weighed 9lb 12oz.

This is both the happiest time and saddest time for us Paul Joszko's sister, Maria

Cpl Joszko had been due to go home on leave to celebrate Dylan's birthday and was "delighted" that Kayleigh was expecting again.

The couple had been together for two years.

His sister Maria Joszko, 31, said: "Kayleigh was the love of his life. He would have been so proud.

"Everyone is doing well. This is both the happiest time and saddest time for us."

'Special moment'

She added: "It's as if it was meant to be - and that he was a boy. He was due four days earlier but he held on."

Both Kayleigh and Dylan have been living with the soldier's parents Linda and David in Mountain Ash since the death.

Maria, who was with her mother Linda and Kayleigh throughout the birth, said she had cut the baby's cord, and said "that was a special moment for me".

"They had chosen the name Iestyn together for a boy. I know Paul always loved Welsh names.

"He would be so proud and absolutely adore the baby, as he did his oldest son Dylan," she said.

"Iestyn looks like Dylan - he looks like Paul anyway"

<li></li>Cpl Joszko, and other soldiers from his regiment, L/Cpl Ryan Francis and Pte Craig Barber, will be commemorated at a service at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Tuesday.

Privates Jamie Kerr and Scott Kennedy, from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland who died alongside him, will also be remembered.