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UK soldier died helping comrade | UK soldier died helping comrade |
(5 days later) | |
A British soldier killed by a bomb in Afghanistan was helping a comrade who had been caught in an earlier blast. | A British soldier killed by a bomb in Afghanistan was helping a comrade who had been caught in an earlier blast. |
Sjt Paul McAleese, 29, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, went to the aid of Pte Johnathon Young, 18, from Hull, of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. | Sjt Paul McAleese, 29, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, went to the aid of Pte Johnathon Young, 18, from Hull, of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. |
Sjt McAleese, born in Hereford, was then killed in the second explosion while on patrol in Helmand on Thursday. | Sjt McAleese, born in Hereford, was then killed in the second explosion while on patrol in Helmand on Thursday. |
He is the son of John McAleese, who led the raid that ended the siege on the Iranian Embassy in London in 1980. | He is the son of John McAleese, who led the raid that ended the siege on the Iranian Embassy in London in 1980. |
The servicemen were killed on the day Afghan voters went to the polls. | The servicemen were killed on the day Afghan voters went to the polls. |
Sjt McAleese leaves a widow, Jo, and a son, Charley, who was born a week before he was deployed to Afghanistan. | Sjt McAleese leaves a widow, Jo, and a son, Charley, who was born a week before he was deployed to Afghanistan. |
'So proud' | 'So proud' |
Joanne McAleese: "I don't think his death was in vain" | Joanne McAleese: "I don't think his death was in vain" |
Jo McAleese told the BBC: "I don't think his death was in vain, because if I thought that it would make it even harder to bear. To know that he was helping somebody means more to me than if he hadn't have been. | Jo McAleese told the BBC: "I don't think his death was in vain, because if I thought that it would make it even harder to bear. To know that he was helping somebody means more to me than if he hadn't have been. |
"That was just so true of how Mac was, that he would do anything for anybody." | "That was just so true of how Mac was, that he would do anything for anybody." |
Rob Hilliard, a 2nd Lieutenant and 10 Platoon Commander, described how Sjt McAleese died trying to help Pte Young. | Rob Hilliard, a 2nd Lieutenant and 10 Platoon Commander, described how Sjt McAleese died trying to help Pte Young. |
"Sjt McAleese was killed while trying to get to a fellow British soldier who had been hit in an IED [Improvised explosive device] strike - fearlessly fulfilling his role as serjeant - a role he had excelled at in recent weeks in the most unimaginable of circumstances," he said. | "Sjt McAleese was killed while trying to get to a fellow British soldier who had been hit in an IED [Improvised explosive device] strike - fearlessly fulfilling his role as serjeant - a role he had excelled at in recent weeks in the most unimaginable of circumstances," he said. |
Pte Young was hailed as a 'regimental star in the making' | Pte Young was hailed as a 'regimental star in the making' |
The spelling Serjeant - rather than Sergeant - is used in The Rifles. | The spelling Serjeant - rather than Sergeant - is used in The Rifles. |
Pte Young, who leaves his mother, Angela, brother, Carl, sister, Leah, and girlfriend, Nicola, was hailed by officers as a "regimental star in the making". | Pte Young, who leaves his mother, Angela, brother, Carl, sister, Leah, and girlfriend, Nicola, was hailed by officers as a "regimental star in the making". |
He had been in Afghanistan for just over a fortnight, having volunteered to be among 125 reinforcements deployed to boost numbers after the summer's casualties. | He had been in Afghanistan for just over a fortnight, having volunteered to be among 125 reinforcements deployed to boost numbers after the summer's casualties. |
His commanding officer Lt Col Tom Vallings said: "He had already set his mark as a robust and determined soldier who always put his friends first. | His commanding officer Lt Col Tom Vallings said: "He had already set his mark as a robust and determined soldier who always put his friends first. |
"He had a strength of character that forced him to be at the very centre of events and it was no surprise that he volunteered to deploy at Afghanistan at short notice." | "He had a strength of character that forced him to be at the very centre of events and it was no surprise that he volunteered to deploy at Afghanistan at short notice." |
Millions of television viewers watched John McAleese's role in the five-day Iranian Embassy siege in 1980. | Millions of television viewers watched John McAleese's role in the five-day Iranian Embassy siege in 1980. |
He was among special forces who blew out the building's windows before rescuing 19 hostages from gunmen. | He was among special forces who blew out the building's windows before rescuing 19 hostages from gunmen. |
Five hostage-takers were killed and one was arrested during the operation. All but one of the hostages survived. | Five hostage-takers were killed and one was arrested during the operation. All but one of the hostages survived. |