An inquest into Lance Cpl Ian Malone, from Dublin, who was killed in the early days of the Iraq war, opened in Oxford yesterday.
He was one of two British soldiers shot dead as troops came near to securing the Iraqi city of Basra during the opening salvos of the war, the inquest heard.
Lance Cpl Malone, aged 28 years, and Piper Christopher Muzvuru, aged 20 years, were killed instantly by two attackers as they stood by their Warrior armoured vehicle in Basra.
Other soldiers frantically tried to save the pair after they were shot numerous times by insurgents loyal to Saddam Hussein.
The heard how the pair had been serving in the First Battalion, the Irish Guards, as part of the Scots Dragoon Battle Group in Basra in the early stages of the invasion of Iraq, in April 2003.
In written evidence to the hearing, the soldiers' commanding officer, Maj Peter MacMullen, said the unit had been involved in clearing parts of the city.
"All but one housing complex had been cleared by last light," he said. "The vehicle the deceased were in had been position by a partially-built building.
"They were approached from the rear by two men. As they turned to challenge these men they opened fire. Lance Cpl Malone died instantly. Subsequently Piper Muzvuru was hit while sitting in the back of the Warrior."
Two other soldiers were injured before the gunmen - who were never identified - fled.
British Home office pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt told the inquest that Piper Muzvuru was a slim, athletic man.
"He received a number of gunshot injuries to his body, one to either of his legs, and then one to his left temple, which was the fatal injury.
"That was consistent with the passage of a high velocity bullet and would have led to instant unconsciousness and death."
A postmortem examination on Lance Cpl Malone, of Ballyfermot Avenue, Dublin, by Dr Nathaniel Cary showed the soldier had been hit by a number of rounds from his right hand side, including several to the neck and head. In the immediate aftermath of the soldiers' deaths Irish Guards colleagues paid tribute to the pair.
"Ian Malone was one of the best-loved members of the pipe band," said a company newsletter contributor.
"His sense of humour and love of life were legendary with number four company."
"He will be irreplaceable within the ranks."
Lance Cpl Malone, who was nicknamed "Molly" by his fellow soldiers, had never left Ireland before he joined the regiment in 1997.
After that he visited more than 20 countries, including Canada, Oman, Poland, and Korea.
His funeral in Dublin attracted more than 3,000 people and saw British soldiers in uniform take part.
Piper Muzuru - the first Black piper in the Irish Guards - was initially denied a funeral in his native Zimbabwe, but the authorities later yielded under pressure and allowed the ceremony to go ahead.
Deputy assistant coroner for Oxfordshire Selena Lynch said: "On the 6th of April the deceased were shot by enemy fire while on active service.
"I am going to record a verdict, therefore, that they were killed in action."