This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8344648.stm
The article has changed 27 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Tributes to five 'men of courage' | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| 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 will live on. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said they had been "men of courage" whose memories will live on. |
| 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. | |
| '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 Chant's "devastated" pregnant wife, Nausheen, said: "Our unborn son will never meet his father, but he will know him through his legacy. | WO1 Chant's "devastated" pregnant wife, Nausheen, said: "Our unborn son will never meet his father, but he will know him through his legacy. |
| "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." |
| The 40-year-old, who was born in Walthamstow, east London, was a regimental sergeant major in the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards - the most senior non-commissioned officer in his battalion. | The 40-year-old, who was born in Walthamstow, east London, was a regimental sergeant major in the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards - the most senior non-commissioned officer in his battalion. |
| 'Gentle giant' | 'Gentle giant' |
| On the day he was killed he was due to be told 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. |
| Sgt Telford had an "infectious" sense of humour | Sgt Telford had an "infectious" sense of humour |
| 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 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. |
| 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. |
| 'Proud soldier' | 'Proud soldier' |
| "So his death at the hands of those he was helping is all the more tragic." | |
| Cpl Boote volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan | |
| 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. | |
| 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." |
| The 22-year-old, from Birkenhead, Liverpool, was a soldier in the Territorial Army who had volunteered to go to Afghanistan. | The 22-year-old, from Birkenhead, Liverpool, was a soldier in the Territorial Army who had volunteered to go to Afghanistan. |
| 'Very intelligent' | |
| 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. |
| Guardsman Major was the youngest of the five soldiers to be 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. | 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. |
| 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." |
| 'Irreplaceable' | 'Irreplaceable' |
| 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. |
| Cpl Webster-Smith had completed a previous tour of Afghanistan | Cpl Webster-Smith 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. |
| The soldiers had been working and living in a compound at a national police checkpoint in the Nad Ali district. | The soldiers had been working and living in a compound at a national police checkpoint in the Nad Ali district. |
| 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. |