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Bodies of soldiers return to UK | Bodies of soldiers return to UK |
(39 minutes later) | |
The bodies of two British soldiers killed in an explosion in Afghanistan have arrived back in the UK. | The bodies of two British soldiers killed in an explosion in Afghanistan have arrived back in the UK. |
Sgt Stuart Millar, 40, from Inverness, and Pte Kevin Elliott, 24, from Dundee, died in a blast in Helmand province during an attack on 31 August. | Sgt Stuart Millar, 40, from Inverness, and Pte Kevin Elliott, 24, from Dundee, died in a blast in Helmand province during an attack on 31 August. |
Both of the men served with the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. | Both of the men served with the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. |
The two bodies arrived at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire at 1100 BST for a formal repatriation ceremony. | The two bodies arrived at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire at 1100 BST for a formal repatriation ceremony. |
Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to the two soldiers as the hearses carrying their bodies drove by. | |
After a private chapel ceremony for their families at RAF Lyneham, the Union Jack-draped coffins were driven to the high street of nearby Wootton Bassett, in Wiltshire, for a memorial procession. | |
'Loving son' | 'Loving son' |
Wootton Bassett town council and Royal British Legion officials have observed the return of dead British soldiers since they started returning through RAF Lyneham in 2007. | |
The soldier's deaths bring the number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 210, although two more British soldiers have since died. | |
The soldiers were brought back to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire | The soldiers were brought back to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire |
The MoD said the deaths, thought to have been caused by a rocket-propelled grenade, happened when the men were attacked in the Babaji district of Helmand. | |
Sgt Millar joined the Army in November 2000, after service in the Territorial Army. | Sgt Millar joined the Army in November 2000, after service in the Territorial Army. |
Paying tribute, Sgt Millar's family said: "[Stuart] was very brave and is a credit to both our family and the Army. We are really proud of him as a father, son, brother and soldier." | Paying tribute, Sgt Millar's family said: "[Stuart] was very brave and is a credit to both our family and the Army. We are really proud of him as a father, son, brother and soldier." |
Pte Elliott joined the Army in 2002. His family said: "Kevin was a loving son, brother, grandson, brother, nephew, uncle and cousin who will be sorely missed by the whole family." | Pte Elliott joined the Army in 2002. His family said: "Kevin was a loving son, brother, grandson, brother, nephew, uncle and cousin who will be sorely missed by the whole family." |