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'Hero' killed in Afghan war named | 'Hero' killed in Afghan war named |
(30 minutes later) | |
A British soldier who died in an explosion in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence. | |
Cpl Simon Hornby, 29, from 2nd Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died on Saturday. | Cpl Simon Hornby, 29, from 2nd Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died on Saturday. |
He was wounded while on foot patrol in the Nad-e-Ali area of Helmand, and died later that day. The Liverpudlian's wife Holly described him as her "hero". | |
A total of 240 UK service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001, including 103 this year. | A total of 240 UK service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001, including 103 this year. |
His wife said: "I am devastated by the loss of Simon. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing the job he loved. He was my hero." | His wife said: "I am devastated by the loss of Simon. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing the job he loved. He was my hero." |
Known as 'Si', Cpl Hornby was "a popular, friendly, sociable and selfless man," said a Ministry of Defence (MoD) statement. | Known as 'Si', Cpl Hornby was "a popular, friendly, sociable and selfless man," said a Ministry of Defence (MoD) statement. |
He loved his wife, he loved the Army and his regiment, and he loved his football team, Liverpool FC Lt Col Robbie Boyd, Commanding Officer | |
Lt Col Robbie Boyd, Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, said Cpl Hornby was one of the most "courageous men" in his battalion. | |
"He was a professional and a highly respected leader of my soldiers. Always happy, always chirpy, he - as did we - lived for his sense of fun, humour and his infectious zest for life; now so sadly taken from him and us," he said. | |
"He loved his wife, he loved the Army and his regiment, and he loved his football team, Liverpool FC," he added. | |
'Lived for admin' | |
Cpl Hornby, who joined the army in 2000, also served in Iraq where he was awarded a commendation for discovering an improvised explosive device (IED), preventing an insurgent ambush. | |
He was stationed in Patrol Base Shamal Storrai, where he took charge of administration. | |
Kingsman John Cree, a member of his section said: "He lived for admin! Always cleaning and caring for our welfare. Constant kit checks, thorough and professional. His catchphrase [was] 'no stone unturned, no water bottle empty'." | |
In a separate incident on Tuesday two UK soldiers were killed in Afghanistan as they stopped suicide bombers attacking a packed marketplace, their commanding officer said. | In a separate incident on Tuesday two UK soldiers were killed in Afghanistan as they stopped suicide bombers attacking a packed marketplace, their commanding officer said. |
L/Cpl David Kirkness, 24, of West Yorkshire, and Rifleman James Brown, 18, from Kent, both of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, were killed by the explosion, at a vehicle checkpoint near Sangin in Helmand. | L/Cpl David Kirkness, 24, of West Yorkshire, and Rifleman James Brown, 18, from Kent, both of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, were killed by the explosion, at a vehicle checkpoint near Sangin in Helmand. |