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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| Soldiers' bodies returned to UK | Soldiers' bodies returned to UK |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The bodies of two UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan's Helmand province have been brought back to the UK. | The bodies of two UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan's Helmand province have been brought back to the UK. |
| Pte Gavin Elliott, 19, from Woodsetts, Notts, of The 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was shot in Babaji. | |
| L/Cpl Richard Brandon, 24, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, from Kidderminster, Worcs, died when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. | L/Cpl Richard Brandon, 24, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, from Kidderminster, Worcs, died when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. |
| They were flown to RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, before making the journey through nearby Wootton Bassett. | They were flown to RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, before making the journey through nearby Wootton Bassett. |
| The town has become a focal point for people to pay their respects to British casualties of the fighting in Afghanistan. | The town has become a focal point for people to pay their respects to British casualties of the fighting in Afghanistan. |
| The soldiers' bodies passed through the Wiltshire market town en-route to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, where post-mortem examinations will be carried out. | The soldiers' bodies passed through the Wiltshire market town en-route to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, where post-mortem examinations will be carried out. |
| L/Cpl Brandon was the driver of a Samson repair and recovery vehicle within the A Squadron Fitter Section of The Light Dragoons. | L/Cpl Brandon was the driver of a Samson repair and recovery vehicle within the A Squadron Fitter Section of The Light Dragoons. |
| 'Relentless work' | 'Relentless work' |
| Comrades said the mechanic "worked relentlessly to keep the troop's vehicles fully operational and battle worthy". | Comrades said the mechanic "worked relentlessly to keep the troop's vehicles fully operational and battle worthy". |
| He was killed in the south of Gereshk in Helmand Province on 2 September, leaving parents, Anna and Geoff, fiancee Emma-Jayne Webster, daughter Kaitlin and step-sons Liam and Martyn. | He was killed in the south of Gereshk in Helmand Province on 2 September, leaving parents, Anna and Geoff, fiancee Emma-Jayne Webster, daughter Kaitlin and step-sons Liam and Martyn. |
| Pte Elliott, whose parents Jayne and James described him as "a hero and the best son and soldier we could have ever wished for", died a day later. | Pte Elliott, whose parents Jayne and James described him as "a hero and the best son and soldier we could have ever wished for", died a day later. |
| He had a younger brother, Joshua, and elder sister, Rebecca, and had been operating with The Light Dragoons Battle Group when he was killed. | He had a younger brother, Joshua, and elder sister, Rebecca, and had been operating with The Light Dragoons Battle Group when he was killed. |
| His platoon commander Capt Johnny Paulin described him as: "Without exception, the most professional private soldier that I have had the privilege to command in my six years of army service." | His platoon commander Capt Johnny Paulin described him as: "Without exception, the most professional private soldier that I have had the privilege to command in my six years of army service." |
| A total of 213 UK service personnel have died in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001. | A total of 213 UK service personnel have died in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001. |