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| Tributes to five 'men of courage' | Tributes to five 'men of courage' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Tributes have been paid to five British soldiers killed in an attack by a "rogue" Afghan policeman on Tuesday. | Tributes have been paid to five British soldiers killed in an attack by a "rogue" Afghan policeman on Tuesday. |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said they had been "men of courage" whose memories would live on. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said they had been "men of courage" whose memories would live on. |
| They were Guardsman Jimmy Major, Warrant Officer Darren Chant, Sgt Matthew Telford, Cpl Steven Boote and Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith. | They were Guardsman Jimmy Major, Warrant Officer Darren Chant, Sgt Matthew Telford, Cpl Steven Boote and Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith. |
| Meanwhile a soldier from 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, has been killed in an explosion in Helmand, the MoD has said. | Meanwhile a soldier from 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, has been killed in an explosion in Helmand, the MoD has said. |
| 'Incomparable courage' | 'Incomparable courage' |
| Mr Ainsworth said of the five men killed earlier in the week: "My deepest sympathies and condolences lie with their grieving families, friends, and all those who served alongside them who will feel the pain of loss most intensely. They are in all our thoughts." | Mr Ainsworth said of the five men killed earlier in the week: "My deepest sympathies and condolences lie with their grieving families, friends, and all those who served alongside them who will feel the pain of loss most intensely. They are in all our thoughts." |
| WO1 Darren 'Daz' Chant was due to become afather for the fourth time. | WO1 Darren 'Daz' Chant was due to become afather for the fourth time. |
| The most senior British general in Afghanistan, Lt Gen Jim Dutton, has warned that this kind of atrocity will not be the last. | The most senior British general in Afghanistan, Lt Gen Jim Dutton, has warned that this kind of atrocity will not be the last. |
| Gen Dutton told BBC1's Politics Show, to be broadcast on Sunday: "It's not the first time that an Afghan policeman or an Afghan soldier or indeed soldiers of other nations in other theatres have carried out this sort of atrocity. | Gen Dutton told BBC1's Politics Show, to be broadcast on Sunday: "It's not the first time that an Afghan policeman or an Afghan soldier or indeed soldiers of other nations in other theatres have carried out this sort of atrocity. |
| "And regrettably I think we have to say it probably won't be the last. But it is a very rare event." | "And regrettably I think we have to say it probably won't be the last. But it is a very rare event." |
| He added that the vast majority of the 90,000 policemen in Afghanistan were doing a good job. | He added that the vast majority of the 90,000 policemen in Afghanistan were doing a good job. |
| Lt Gen Nick Parker, whose son Harry lost his legs serving in Afghanistan this summer, defended the war, saying the Army were "doing the right thing". | Lt Gen Nick Parker, whose son Harry lost his legs serving in Afghanistan this summer, defended the war, saying the Army were "doing the right thing". |
| Gen Dutton warns of more atrocities | Gen Dutton warns of more atrocities |
| He told the BBC: "This is not about the individual tragedies. This is about something bigger than that. | He told the BBC: "This is not about the individual tragedies. This is about something bigger than that. |
| "This is about something which we have to believe in as soldiers, that we are doing the right thing - for our mates, for our battalion and for our country and I still firmly believe that." | "This is about something which we have to believe in as soldiers, that we are doing the right thing - for our mates, for our battalion and for our country and I still firmly believe that." |
| WO Chant's "devastated" pregnant wife, Nausheen, paid tribute to her 40-year-old husband, who was born in Walthamstow, east London. | WO Chant's "devastated" pregnant wife, Nausheen, paid tribute to her 40-year-old husband, who was born in Walthamstow, east London. |
| She said: "Our unborn son will never meet his father, but he will know him through his legacy. | She said: "Our unborn son will never meet his father, but he will know him through his legacy. |
| 'Gentle giant' | 'Gentle giant' |
| "For whether in uniform or out, his incomparable courage and selflessness humbled all those who knew and loved him." | "For whether in uniform or out, his incomparable courage and selflessness humbled all those who knew and loved him." |
| He was well placed to help the police learn new skills... so his death at the hands of those he was helping is all the more tragic Lt Col Walker Troop deaths 'not last atrocity' | He was well placed to help the police learn new skills... so his death at the hands of those he was helping is all the more tragic Lt Col Walker Troop deaths 'not last atrocity' |
| The regimental sergeant major in the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards - the most senior non-commissioned officer in his battalion - was due to be told on the day he was killed he had been awarded a commission as an officer. | The regimental sergeant major in the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards - the most senior non-commissioned officer in his battalion - was due to be told on the day he was killed he had been awarded a commission as an officer. |
| Sgt Telford, 37, from Grimsby, served in the same battalion. | Sgt Telford, 37, from Grimsby, served in the same battalion. |
| His family said: "Matt was a larger than life character - a gentle giant of a man. He will be sadly missed by his wife, Kerry, and sons, Harry and Callum." | His family said: "Matt was a larger than life character - a gentle giant of a man. He will be sadly missed by his wife, Kerry, and sons, Harry and Callum." |
| 'Proud soldier' | 'Proud soldier' |
| His commanding officer, Lt Col Walker, said he had been a "quiet giant of a man" who had been working with a small detachment of Afghan police to improve security in a village infiltrated by insurgents. | His commanding officer, Lt Col Walker, said he had been a "quiet giant of a man" who had been working with a small detachment of Afghan police to improve security in a village infiltrated by insurgents. |
| Cpl Boote volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan | Cpl Boote volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan |
| He said: "He was well placed to help the police learn new skills, and as a soldier he was more than ready to face the challenges. | He said: "He was well placed to help the police learn new skills, and as a soldier he was more than ready to face the challenges. |
| "So his death at the hands of those he was helping is all the more tragic." | "So his death at the hands of those he was helping is all the more tragic." |
| Cpl Boote's parents, Margaret and Anthony, said their only child would "light up a room with a single smile" and described him as a "wonderful, genuine" son and friend. | Cpl Boote's parents, Margaret and Anthony, said their only child would "light up a room with a single smile" and described him as a "wonderful, genuine" son and friend. |
| 'Very intelligent' | 'Very intelligent' |
| His girlfriend, Emma Murray, added: "Your cheeky smile would fill everyone with happiness. Steven, I love you so much. You are my rock, my refuge." | His girlfriend, Emma Murray, added: "Your cheeky smile would fill everyone with happiness. Steven, I love you so much. You are my rock, my refuge." |
| [Jimmy was]... a quiet soldier at first, but he came out of his shell quickly and showed a rare comical side L/Sgt Peter Baily | [Jimmy was]... a quiet soldier at first, but he came out of his shell quickly and showed a rare comical side L/Sgt Peter Baily |
| The 22-year-old, from Birkenhead, Merseyside, was a soldier in the Territorial Army who had volunteered to go to Afghanistan. | |
| He worked as a security team leader at a Tesco store and planned to join the police back in Britain. | He worked as a security team leader at a Tesco store and planned to join the police back in Britain. |
| Guardsman Major's family said: "Jimmy was a tremendous son. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job he loved." | Guardsman Major's family said: "Jimmy was a tremendous son. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job he loved." |
| The top cover gunner in the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, would have celebrated his 19th birthday next week, and was the youngest of those killed. | The top cover gunner in the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, would have celebrated his 19th birthday next week, and was the youngest of those killed. |
| Guardsman Major's grandfather, Harry Gilliatt, said: "Jimmy loved the Army and he loved the regiment, " he said. | Guardsman Major's grandfather, Harry Gilliatt, said: "Jimmy loved the Army and he loved the regiment, " he said. |
| "He couldn't wait to go - certainly made everybody, his friends and family and everybody, so proud of him. They've just taken one thing away: we just can't pat him on the back when he comes home." | "He couldn't wait to go - certainly made everybody, his friends and family and everybody, so proud of him. They've just taken one thing away: we just can't pat him on the back when he comes home." |
| 'Determined professional' | 'Determined professional' |
| L/Sgt Peter Baily said he came across as "very intelligent" and "motivated" and had had a keen interest in boxing, which he had hoped to take up on his return to Britain. | L/Sgt Peter Baily said he came across as "very intelligent" and "motivated" and had had a keen interest in boxing, which he had hoped to take up on his return to Britain. |
| He said: "A quiet soldier at first, but he came out of his shell quickly and showed a rare comical side." | He said: "A quiet soldier at first, but he came out of his shell quickly and showed a rare comical side." |
| Cpl Webster-Smith had completed a previous tour of Afghanistan | Cpl Webster-Smith had completed a previous tour of Afghanistan |
| Cpl Webster-Smith, known as Nic or W-S, was described by his family as an "irreplaceable son, brother, boyfriend and friend" who always put others first. | Cpl Webster-Smith, known as Nic or W-S, was described by his family as an "irreplaceable son, brother, boyfriend and friend" who always put others first. |
| The 24-year-old, of Brackley, Northamptonshire, was in the Royal Military Police and had completed a previous tour of Afghanistan. | The 24-year-old, of Brackley, Northamptonshire, was in the Royal Military Police and had completed a previous tour of Afghanistan. |
| His commanding officer, Lt Col Debbie Poneskis, said he had been professional and determined and always the "first to volunteer and the last to give up". | His commanding officer, Lt Col Debbie Poneskis, said he had been professional and determined and always the "first to volunteer and the last to give up". |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the Taliban could have infiltrated the police, who were being mentored by the soldiers, prior the shooting. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the Taliban could have infiltrated the police, who were being mentored by the soldiers, prior the shooting. |
| But BBC Kabul correspondent Ian Pannell later said the Taliban had not admitted carrying out the attack. | But BBC Kabul correspondent Ian Pannell later said the Taliban had not admitted carrying out the attack. |
Most recent UK fatalities | Most recent UK fatalities |
| Total deaths 2009: 95 | Total deaths 2009: 95 |
| Updated: Mon Nov 09 2009Full list | Updated: Mon Nov 09 2009Full list |
| Mr Brown is to deliver what Downing Street has described as a "major speech" on Afghanistan on Friday. | Mr Brown is to deliver what Downing Street has described as a "major speech" on Afghanistan on Friday. |
| The soldiers had been working and living in a compound at a national police checkpoint in the Nad Ali district in the two weeks leading to their deaths. | The soldiers had been working and living in a compound at a national police checkpoint in the Nad Ali district in the two weeks leading to their deaths. |
| Six other British men and two Afghan National Police officers were injured in the attack. | Six other British men and two Afghan National Police officers were injured in the attack. |
| A total of 93 UK servicemen have now been killed this year, the highest annual figure since the Falklands War in 1982. | A total of 93 UK servicemen have now been killed this year, the highest annual figure since the Falklands War in 1982. |