Fitaloon at MicroShaft

Cpl Richard Green and Riflemen Jonathon Allott and Liam Maughan, all of 3 Rifles, died within days of each other. Cpl Stephen Thompson, of 1 Rifles, and L/Cpl Thomas Keogh, of 4 Rifles, both lost their lives on Sunday.

The Bodies of Five fallen soldiers arrived back in the UK today. The BBC has this:

The bodies of five serviceman killed in Afghanistan last week have been flown back to Britain.

They landed at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire where a private service will be held, before a cortege drives them through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett.

Cpl Richard Green and Riflemen Jonathon Allott and Liam Maughan, all of 3 Rifles, died within days of each other.

Cpl Stephen Thompson, of 1 Rifles, and L/Cpl Thomas Keogh, of 4 Rifles, both lost their lives on Sunday.

Hundreds of people are expected to line the streets of Wootton Bassett in tribute.

‘True warrior’

Reading-born Cpl Green, 23, was killed by small arms fire near Sangin in Helmand province on Tuesday.

His commanding officer, Lt Col Nick Kitson, said he was “cut down by a gunman hiding in the shadows” as he stood firm and proud.

He leaves behind his father Chris, mother Eileen, and brother and sister, Daniel and Charlotte.

Rifleman Allott, 19, of Bournemouth, in Dorset, was killed by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) on Friday, also near Sangin.

He had been helping to install a new patrol base, and leaves behind his parents, two sisters and two brothers.

Lt Col Kitson said he was an “inspirational young man” and a “true warrior”.

Rifleman Maughan, 18, who was born in Doncaster, died from gunshot wounds in the same area on Saturday as he watched over his platoon as they spoke with local people.

He leaves behind his parents, girlfriend, and a newborn son he never saw.

His family said: “This cruel and premature departure from us leaves dreams unfulfilled, potentials unrealised and a massive irreparable hole in the lives of everyone who knew him.”

Cpl Thompson, 31, from Bovey Tracey, Devon, who was killed by an IED south of Sangin, leaves behind his mother and father, Carol and Peter, brother, Philip, sisters, Claire and Helen, and his young son, Ewan.

Cpl Ben Hall, of 2 Platoon, said of his colleague: “He was always coming out with one-liners that had us in clip laughing. It was a privilege and an honour to have served and fought side by side with you, mate.”

L/Cpl Keogh, 24, from Paddington, in London, was killed by small arms engagement in Patrol Base Bariolai in Sangin.

His parents, Lawrence and Marion, said they loved and admired their eldest son who loved Army life and lived life to the full.

May they Rest in Peace.

BBC News – Five fallen soldiers back in UK.

BBC Newsnight had this last night on Sangin and how it is a Lethal Cocktail.

Sangin in Afghanistan is the most dangerous place in the world for UK troops, with six UK servicemen being killed there since the beginning of this month. Newsnight’s Mark Urban travelled to Sangin to report on what is happening on the ground and why it is proving so lethal for UK troops.

Among British soldiers in Afghanistan, Sangin has the grimmest reputation. Half of all UK forces casualties occur in this one area of operations, with about one tenth of Britain’s forces in Afghanistan deployed in it.

When the 2nd Battalion of the Rifles finished its tour in Sangin in the late summer of 2009, soldiers spoke about their six-month stint as an epic of hard fighting.

It had certainly been a difficult time, with 22 soldiers killed and dozens seriously wounded.

And while the attention has been on central Helmand and Operation Moshtarak, the losses incurred by the 3 Rifles Battlegroup, the battalion that took over in Sangin last October, have climbed to 27 killed, with around one month of their tour still to serve.

Eight Afghan National Army soldiers have also lost their lives there during the same five month period.

Follow the rest on the link below.

BBC News – Newsnight – Cocktail of ingredients making Sangin so lethal.

Yet again the basics are blamed for the deaths in Afghanistan of four soldiers.The BBC has this

The coroner at an inquest into the death of four British soldiers in a blast in Afghanistan has pointed to “inadequacies” in their bomb training.

Coroner David Masters said the deaths also highlighted the problems of the Snatch Land Rover in which they died in 2008.

Verdicts of unlawful killing were recorded for Cpl Sarah Bryant and SAS reservists Cpl Sean Reeve, L/Cpl Richard Larkin and Pte Paul Stout.

How long do we have to listen to the same themes occur at Inquests before the Government, MOD, and our Defence Ministers understand what their responsibilities are to our Armed Forces.

The inquest heard soldiers had not been shown how to use metal detectors in the UK due to an equipment shortage.

The troops were forced to ask an expert on base in Afghanistan to pass on his knowledge.

Mr Masters said:

“In my judgment there was an inadequacy in training for this unit and its members.”

The inquest heard that the soldiers’ commander had requested a replacement for their Snatch Land Rover but was refused due to equipment shortages.

The vehicles could not cover soft ground and became stuck in a little water, which restricted the unit to driving along dangerous tracks.

“There was significant disquiet about these vehicles being the only resource available to this unit for a variety of reasons,” Mr Masters said.

He said his report to the MoD would seek a review on the use of Snatch Land Rovers by such a specialist unit.

At least 37 UK soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan while travelling in the lightly armoured vehicle, whose vulnerability to roadside bombs and other explosives has led some soldiers to call it the “mobile coffin”.

Despite this Bill Rammell, an apology of a Minister, had this to repeat

In respect of Snatch, commanders need a variety of vehicles and we cannot always put our people in those that are most heavily armoured as these vehicles have restricted manoeuvrability and are not able to drive across the most difficult of terrain

Did he not listen to what they said at the Inquest or is he just terminally thick. It’s written in bold above just in case he needs some prompting.

Today we should remember the four soldiers who died and hope that, in memory of them, lessons have been learned so that their deaths are not in vain. May they Rest in Peace.

BBC News – Troop bomb training ‘inadequate’.

Not sure if the MOD is reading my blog but this has just been posted by the aptly named General Messenger:

Insurgent activity in Sangin

Let us hope that they are indeed taking measures to ensure there are no more deaths of Allied Soldiers.

Insurgent activity in Sangin – Afghanistan.

Bruce Anderson takes Brown to pieces for his utter contempt for the Army.

His final paragraph is on the money sadly

As a result of Mr Brown’s malfeasance – abetted by Mr Blair’s cowardice – men have died who should have lived: men have been crippled who could have escaped with minor injuries. All war leads to a butcher’s bill. Even with the best equipment, there comes the moment when discipline, training, group-bonding, patriotism and courage must inspire flesh and blood to stand up to lead and high explosive. Flesh and blood do not always win. The gods of battles choose the best and the bravest to dine with them in Valhalla. War means heart-rending sacrifices. It is the duty of prime ministers to minimise those sacrifices: few duties more solemn. This one has treated that duty with contempt. “You’ve ruined my life” he once yelled at Tony Blair. What nonsense, what pathetic nonsense. But lives have been lost, because Mr Brown would not do his duty and Tony Blair would not make him.

There is an error in the column when he says 1000 personnel were to be returned from Afghanistan, It should be Iraq, hopefully it will be corrected, but it takes no sting out of his correct and damning indictment of Gordon Brown.

We need to see more like this on other subjects in all the Nationals. Exposing the Brown Lies or Brownies between now and the General Election is essential in ensuring this man cane never again come anywhere near to power.

Vote for Change.

Bruce Anderson: Nothing incriminates Mr Brown like his contempt for the Army – Bruce Anderson, Commentators – The Independent.