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| Bodies of UK soldiers return home | Bodies of UK soldiers return home |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The bodies of four UK soldiers killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan are to return to British soil later. | The bodies of four UK soldiers killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan are to return to British soil later. |
| Rifleman Aminiasi Toge, 26, Cpl Joseph Etchells, 22, Capt Daniel Shepherd, 28 and Guardsman Christopher King, 20, were all killed in Helmand Province. | Rifleman Aminiasi Toge, 26, Cpl Joseph Etchells, 22, Capt Daniel Shepherd, 28 and Guardsman Christopher King, 20, were all killed in Helmand Province. |
| After repatriation at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, their cortege will pass through nearby Wootton Bassett. | After repatriation at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, their cortege will pass through nearby Wootton Bassett. |
| They were among 191 UK personnel killed in the conflict since 2001, including 22 this month. | They were among 191 UK personnel killed in the conflict since 2001, including 22 this month. |
| The latest victims were two soldiers killed in separate incidents on Monday morning. | The latest victims were two soldiers killed in separate incidents on Monday morning. |
| Hundreds of British Legion veterans, shopkeepers and residents are expected to once again line the streets of Wootton Bassett to pay their respects as the coffins are brought through. | Hundreds of British Legion veterans, shopkeepers and residents are expected to once again line the streets of Wootton Bassett to pay their respects as the coffins are brought through. |
| Major assault | Major assault |
| The cortege will pause at the war memorial before heading on to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital for post-mortem examination. | |
| Rifleman Toge, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, from Suva, Fiji, was killed on July 16 in an explosion while on foot patrol close to Forward Operating Base Keenan, near Gereshk. | Rifleman Toge, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, from Suva, Fiji, was killed on July 16 in an explosion while on foot patrol close to Forward Operating Base Keenan, near Gereshk. |
| Cpl Etchells, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, from Mossley, Greater Manchester, was killed on July 19 in an explosion while on foot patrol, near Sangin. | Cpl Etchells, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, from Mossley, Greater Manchester, was killed on July 19 in an explosion while on foot patrol, near Sangin. |
| It has become tradition for Wootton Bassett people to mark the procession | |
| Capt Shepherd, of the 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, from Lincoln, died after an explosion on July 20 as he tried to clear a route in Nad-e-Ali District. | Capt Shepherd, of the 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, from Lincoln, died after an explosion on July 20 as he tried to clear a route in Nad-e-Ali District. |
| Guardsman King, of 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, from Birkenhead, Merseyside, died on July 22 while on foot patrol in the Nad-e-Ali District, when he stood on an explosive. | Guardsman King, of 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, from Birkenhead, Merseyside, died on July 22 while on foot patrol in the Nad-e-Ali District, when he stood on an explosive. |
| He had been taking part in Operation Panchai Palang, or Panther's Claw, a major assault against insurgents ahead of next month's Afghan elections. | He had been taking part in Operation Panchai Palang, or Panther's Claw, a major assault against insurgents ahead of next month's Afghan elections. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the first phase of the operation - an offensive to gain ground from the Taliban - had now drawn to a close. He said their sacrifice had "not been in vain". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the first phase of the operation - an offensive to gain ground from the Taliban - had now drawn to a close. He said their sacrifice had "not been in vain". |
| Troops are now focusing on the second stage of the operation, to hold ground gained over recent weeks, before trying to maintain security for the elections. | Troops are now focusing on the second stage of the operation, to hold ground gained over recent weeks, before trying to maintain security for the elections. |