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Tribute to 'committed' Rifleman Tributes to 'committed' Rifleman
(10 minutes later)
Defence Secretary John Hutton has paid tribute to "a brave, versatile and committed Rifleman" who died in an explosion in Afghanistan. Tributes have been paid to "a brave, versatile and committed Rifleman" who died in an explosion in Afghanistan.
Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was one of four troops killed on Thursday - one of the bloodiest days yet for UK forces. Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, died when his Jackal patrol vehicle was hit by an improvised device near Sangin, Helmand.
Black Watch soldier Cpl Sean Binnie, 22, was shot near Musa Qala, Helmand. The 25-year-old, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, near Mansfield, was one of four UK troops killed in the province on Thursday.
Two more soldiers, who have yet to be named, died after a suicide attack in the province. His family described him as "our son, our hero, our best mate".
Rifleman Sheldon, named by the MoD on Saturday, was killed in the explosion in Sangin, in northern Helmand. His parents, Mark and Diane, and his younger sister, Amy, added: "The light of our lives has gone out, never to be replaced."
Defence Secretary John Hutton said: "It is clear to me that he was a brave, versatile and committed Rifleman, a sharp and fun-loving friend, and a cherished son and brother."Defence Secretary John Hutton said: "It is clear to me that he was a brave, versatile and committed Rifleman, a sharp and fun-loving friend, and a cherished son and brother."
Since 2001, 157 UK troops have been killed on operations in Afghanistan. Thursday was one of the bloodiest days for UK forces since the operations began in 2001.
He was an outstanding role model to all of us who count it a privilege to have served alongside him Lt Col Rob Thomson
Black Watch soldier Cpl Sean Binnie, 22, was shot near Musa Qala, Helmand, while two more soldiers - who have yet to be named - died after a suicide attack in the province.
The deaths took the number of UK troops to have been killed on operations in Afghanistan to 157.
Rifleman Sheldon had first joined the battalion in March 2001 and served on operations in Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq.
He left the Army and spent time working in IT recruitment and for a driving agency.
However, "it soon became clear that life as a 'civvie' was not for him" and he returned to the Army, the MoD said.
An avid Mansfield Town supporter from a young age, he served in 8 Platoon, the Fire Support Platoon, in B Company, 2 Rifles.
'Sorely missed'
Lt Col Rob Thomson, commanding officer of 2 Rifles Battle Group North, said Rifleman Sheldon would be "sorely missed".
"Rifleman Sheldon was one of those 'rocks' in my Fire Support Groups," he said.
"Deeply experienced on operations and in life, he was an outstanding role model to all of us who count it a privilege to have served alongside him."
"He was not a noisy Rifleman like some but there was an enviable depth and maturity to his character, which drew Riflemen of all ranks to him."