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/8417964.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK soldiers died 'to save lives' | UK soldiers died 'to save lives' |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| Two UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan sacrificed their lives to stop suicide bombers attacking a packed marketplace, their commanding officer has said. | Two UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan sacrificed their lives to stop suicide bombers attacking a packed marketplace, their commanding officer has said. |
| L/Cpl David Kirkness, 24, of West Yorkshire, and Rifleman James Brown, 18, from Hampshire, both of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, died on Tuesday. | L/Cpl David Kirkness, 24, of West Yorkshire, and Rifleman James Brown, 18, from Hampshire, both of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, died on Tuesday. |
| They were killed by an explosion at a vehicle checkpoint near Sangin in Helmand. Two Afghan soldiers also died. | They were killed by an explosion at a vehicle checkpoint near Sangin in Helmand. Two Afghan soldiers also died. |
| Lt Col Nick Kitson said they "averted a much larger tragedy". | Lt Col Nick Kitson said they "averted a much larger tragedy". |
| The soldiers were on a joint patrol with the Afghan National Army and the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force. They were on foot at the time of the blast. | The soldiers were on a joint patrol with the Afghan National Army and the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force. They were on foot at the time of the blast. |
| 'Comfort and pride' | 'Comfort and pride' |
| Loading.. | Loading.. |
| L/Cpl Kirkness, from Morley in Leeds, was described by his commanding officer as "a first-class leader". | |
| He said: "To the younger riflemen he gave inspiration and guidance, earning their respect and instilling in them the confidence and understanding to guide them through their current challenges. | He said: "To the younger riflemen he gave inspiration and guidance, earning their respect and instilling in them the confidence and understanding to guide them through their current challenges. |
| "He balanced courage and grit with compassion and consideration, winning trust, admiration and friendship wherever he went. | "He balanced courage and grit with compassion and consideration, winning trust, admiration and friendship wherever he went. |
| "Tragic as his loss is, we take comfort and pride from the fact that he and the soldiers who died with him, both Afghan and British, averted a much larger tragedy. | "Tragic as his loss is, we take comfort and pride from the fact that he and the soldiers who died with him, both Afghan and British, averted a much larger tragedy. |
| "Their sacrifice prevented two suicide bombers from reaching their intended target, the bustling and ever more prosperous Sangin Bazaar, packed with local Afghans going about their daily business." | "Their sacrifice prevented two suicide bombers from reaching their intended target, the bustling and ever more prosperous Sangin Bazaar, packed with local Afghans going about their daily business." |
| A statement from his parents, Christopher and Margaret Kirkness and his three-year-old daughter, Brooke, said: "We would like to thank family and friends for their support over these difficult times. | A statement from his parents, Christopher and Margaret Kirkness and his three-year-old daughter, Brooke, said: "We would like to thank family and friends for their support over these difficult times. |
| "If you knew David, you had to love him - it was impossible not to. And in David's own words, 'If you didn't know me, hard luck.' He will always be in our hearts." | "If you knew David, you had to love him - it was impossible not to. And in David's own words, 'If you didn't know me, hard luck.' He will always be in our hearts." |
| 'Bright future' | 'Bright future' |
| The family of Rifleman Brown, from Farnborough, Hampshire, said: "James Stephen Brown, a son, brother, uncle, boyfriend and a friend. You were a true hero and will be dearly missed. | The family of Rifleman Brown, from Farnborough, Hampshire, said: "James Stephen Brown, a son, brother, uncle, boyfriend and a friend. You were a true hero and will be dearly missed. |
| "We all love you so much. You died a hero living your dream and you will always be in our thoughts. Your actions will always speak louder than words ever could." | "We all love you so much. You died a hero living your dream and you will always be in our thoughts. Your actions will always speak louder than words ever could." |
| Lt Col Kitson said he was a young man "showing the promising signs of a soldier with a bright future". | Lt Col Kitson said he was a young man "showing the promising signs of a soldier with a bright future". |
| He said: "He had already made a lasting impression on his fellow riflemen with his immense courage, infectious confidence and talent for making people laugh. | He said: "He had already made a lasting impression on his fellow riflemen with his immense courage, infectious confidence and talent for making people laugh. |
| "What he lacked in experience he made up for in enthusiasm, young yet keen to please and with a voracious appetite for work and fun in equal measure. | "What he lacked in experience he made up for in enthusiasm, young yet keen to please and with a voracious appetite for work and fun in equal measure. |
| "It is all the more difficult to come to terms with the loss of one so young and we are all deprived of the joy of watching his promise unfold." | "It is all the more difficult to come to terms with the loss of one so young and we are all deprived of the joy of watching his promise unfold." |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said he was "extremely saddened" to learn of the deaths. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said he was "extremely saddened" to learn of the deaths. |
| A total of 239 UK service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001, including 102 this year. | A total of 239 UK service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001, including 102 this year. |