22/07/2010

Soldiers Die In Afghanistan Rescue Bid

Two British soldiers have been shot dead in Afghanistan as they attempted to rescue an injured colleague.

The soldiers, one from The Royal Dragoon Guards and one from 1st Battalion Scots Guards, were killed by small arms fire in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province, on Wednesday evening.

Their families have been informed.

Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "The soldiers were part of a cordon operation providing security for a routine rotation of troops when they were killed by small arms fire. In the courageous and selfless act of attempting to evacuate an injured colleague, they themselves were shot and fatally wounded.

"They died helping their friends. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. We will remember them."

A total of 324 British service personnel have now been killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001.

Meanwhile the bodies of four British servicemen killed at the weekend in Afghanistan arrived at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire today for repatriation .

Staff Sergeant Brett Linley, 29, of 11 Explosive Ordance Disposal Regiment and Sergeant David Monkhouse, 35, of the Royal Dragoon Guards died on Saturday, while Senior Aircraftman Kinikki Griffiths, 20, of 1 Squadron RAF Regiment and Marine Jonathan Crookes, 26, of 40 Commando Royal Marines, were killed on Friday.

(KMcA/GK)

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