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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tributes to 'committed' Rifleman | Tributes to 'committed' Rifleman |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tributes have been paid 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, died when his Jackal patrol vehicle was hit by an improvised device near Sangin, Helmand. | Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, died when his Jackal patrol vehicle was hit by an improvised device near Sangin, Helmand. |
| The 25-year-old, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, near Mansfield, was one of four UK troops killed in the province on Thursday. | The 25-year-old, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, near Mansfield, was one of four UK troops killed in the province on Thursday. |
| His family described him as "our son, our hero, our best mate". | His family described him as "our son, our hero, our best mate". |
| His parents, Mark and Diane, and his younger sister, Amy, added: "The light of our lives has gone out, never to be replaced." | 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." |
| Thursday was one of the bloodiest days for UK forces since the operations began in 2001. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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, after Army training in Harrogate and Catterick, 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. | 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. | 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. | 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' | 'Sorely missed' |
| Lt Col Rob Thomson, commanding officer of 2 Rifles Battle Group North, said Rifleman Sheldon would be "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. | "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." | "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." | "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." |