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.

Always and Forever

Sadly the MOD are reporting the death of another soldier in Afghanistan.

And yet again it is in the area of Sangin in Helmand. This is the 6th Soldier to be killed already this month near Sangin and we must yet again ask why this is happening? Are resources thin on the ground stopping proper patrolling and operations whilst Operation Moshtarak is taking place? Are the Taliban just moving to a different area?

The MOD has this:

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of a soldier from 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES), serving as part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group, in Afghanistan yesterday, Sunday 7 March 2010.

The soldier died as a result of an explosion which occurred in an area three kilometres south of Sangin district centre, in Helmand province.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, said:

“It is with a heavy heart I must inform you of the death of a second British soldier in a separate incident yesterday, in the Sangin area of northern Helmand province.

“He was from 1 RIFLES, serving as part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group, and was on a foot patrol near Patrol Base Almas, which is to the south of Sangin district centre, when he was killed by an explosion.

“We have lost one of our comrades and he will be sorely missed but his boldness and his selfless commitment to this fight will not be forgotten.”

Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

This death was not connected to Operation MOSHTARAK.

My thoughts are with his family and friends on this sad day.

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Soldier from 1 RIFLES killed in Afghanistan.

Always and Forever

Another sad day when I have to post the sad news of the deaths of more than one soldier. I had reported the death of a soldier yesterday earlier on, but another death has been announced. Again this is from 3 Rifles. The MOD has this:

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of a soldier from 3 RIFLES.

The soldier died from wounds received as a result of small arms fire which occurred near Sangin, in Helmand Province, during the morning of 6 March 2010.

The soldier’s death was not connected to Operation MOSHTARAK.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, said:

“It is with deep sadness I have to inform you that a British soldier from 3 RIFLES lost his life this morning as a result of small arms fire.

“He was on a deliberate operation against insurgents to the south of Sangin District Centre, near Patrol Base Suffolk, when he was shot.

“He died boldly taking the fight to the enemy and will not be forgotten.”

The soldier’s next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

My thoughts are with his family and friends on this sad day.

Again we see a death, not connected with Operation Moshtarak, and I  wonder if our concentration of forces in this operation is just moving on the Taliban to less well  defended areas, are we struggling to keep the other areas so well policed and patrolled as we are being stretched by the current operations in progress. Let us hope this is not the case, it will not have been helped today by the visit of Brown. As Michael Yon the American War Correspondent and Photographer notes on similar visits:

WAR TOURISM: Saw this in Iraq, and see it here, too. VIPs — and journalists — come to war for short periods, then go home knowing nothing more. Yet they get on television and say, “During my five trips to Iraq and Afghanistan…” ( They leave out the part that those five trips totaled maybe 10 days on the ground, and wasted a lot of commanders’ time while same commanders could have been war fighting.) War Tourists waste US money, drain helicopter and other assets, and rob commanders of crucial time that should be spent on our troops and the enemy. War Tourists would do us all a favor by going to the Pentagon for briefings while leaving the war fighters alone.

Just substitute the UK for the US and MOD for Pentagon and you will see how it applies to the Britain as well.

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Soldier from 3 RIFLES killed near Sangin on 6 March.

Always and Forever

As Gordon Brown cynically visits Afghanistan the day after his Chilcot Inquiry “performance”, we hear of the sad news of the death of a British Soldier. The MOD has this.

The soldier died from wounds received as a result of an explosion which occurred near Sangin, in Helmand Province, during the morning of 5 March 2010.

The soldier’s death was not connected to Operation MOSHTARAK.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, said:

“It is my sad duty to inform you that yesterday a British soldier from 3 RIFLES died as a result of an explosion in Sangin, northern Helmand.

“He was on a foot patrol to the south-west of Patrol Base Blenheim when he was struck by an explosion.

“He died in the course of his duty and among his comrades. He will be sorely missed and we will remember him.”

The soldier’s next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

My thoughts are with his family and friends on this sad day.

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Soldier from 3 RIFLES killed near Sangin on 5 March.

Always and Forever

The MOD releases the sad news of the death of a soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment in the Nad ‘ALi District in Helmand, he was part of Operation Moshtarak. The MOD has this

It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must announce that a soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, was killed in Afghanistan today, Friday 26 February 2010.

The soldier died from wounds received as a result of an explosion near Check Point Shamal Storrei in the Nad ‘Ali district of Helmand province this morning.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, said:

“It is my sad duty to inform you that a soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment, serving with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, was killed this morning.

“He was on a dismounted patrol against insurgents in an area about 3 kilometres south of Check Point Shamal Storrei, to the west of Lashkar Gah, when he was caught by an explosion.

“We have lost one of our comrades but his courage in the face of danger, relentlessly taking the fight to the enemy, will be remembered.”

This death is connected to Operation MOSHTARAK.

Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Military Operations | Soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment killed in Afghanistan.