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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tributes paid to 'brave' soldiers | Tributes paid to 'brave' soldiers |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Tributes have been paid to the bravery of two British soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Rifles who were killed while on foot patrol in Afghanistan. | Tributes have been paid to the bravery of two British soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Rifles who were killed while on foot patrol in Afghanistan. |
| Cpl Lee Brownson, 30, originally from Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, was an "all-action hero", company commander Maj Tim Harris said. | Cpl Lee Brownson, 30, originally from Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, was an "all-action hero", company commander Maj Tim Harris said. |
| And Rifleman Luke Farmer, 19, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, "saved many lives" searching for explosive devices. | And Rifleman Luke Farmer, 19, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, "saved many lives" searching for explosive devices. |
| The men died in an explosion near Sangin in Helmand province on Friday. | The men died in an explosion near Sangin in Helmand province on Friday. |
| Their deaths take the number of UK personnel killed since 2001, when operations began in Afghanistan, to 249. | Their deaths take the number of UK personnel killed since 2001, when operations began in Afghanistan, to 249. |
| 'Hit by shrapnel' | |
| Maj Harris said Cpl Brownson, who was due to become a father for the third time, was "truly phenomenal" and "outstandingly brave". | Maj Harris said Cpl Brownson, who was due to become a father for the third time, was "truly phenomenal" and "outstandingly brave". |
| "He was loved by his men; they all wanted to be just like him, their hero. | "He was loved by his men; they all wanted to be just like him, their hero. |
| "If there was a fight to be had, he was always at the front," he said. | "If there was a fight to be had, he was always at the front," he said. |
| It is certain that he saved many lives - British and Afghan - through his sheer resilience and bravery Lt Palmer Winstanley pays tribute to Rifleman Luke Farmer | |
| "On one occasion, like the all-action hero he was, he was hit by a piece of shrapnel in his shoulder, but refused medical treatment, dealing with it in the morning once the enemy had gone." | "On one occasion, like the all-action hero he was, he was hit by a piece of shrapnel in his shoulder, but refused medical treatment, dealing with it in the morning once the enemy had gone." |
| L/Cpl Johnny Cassell said the 30-year-old "was known as a bit of a 'Del Boy' in the battalion", referring to the character played by David Jason in TV comedy Only Fools and Horses. | |
| He "never failed to make me laugh with stories of his latest money-making schemes", L/Cpl Cassell added. | |
| Rifleman Farmer was "mature beyond his years", his platoon commander, Lt Palmer Winstanley, said. | Rifleman Farmer was "mature beyond his years", his platoon commander, Lt Palmer Winstanley, said. |
| "He had a real depth of character," he added. "He was confident, strong and kind. He was a quiet man with a quick wit." | "He had a real depth of character," he added. "He was confident, strong and kind. He was a quiet man with a quick wit." |
| 'Resilience and bravery' | |
| Lt Winstanley said the 19-year-old had "stepped up to the mark as our lead man, responsible for finding improvised explosive devices with a metal detector". | Lt Winstanley said the 19-year-old had "stepped up to the mark as our lead man, responsible for finding improvised explosive devices with a metal detector". |
| "This is an incredible undertaking for anyone, and it is certain that he saved many lives - British and Afghan - through his sheer resilience and bravery." | "This is an incredible undertaking for anyone, and it is certain that he saved many lives - British and Afghan - through his sheer resilience and bravery." |
| His father, Mark, told of being "the proudest dad" at his passing out parade. | |
| "I felt 20ft tall the day Luke received the award for fittest soldier within his intake. | |
| "He could have one day gone to the Olympics as a 100m sprinter - he was that fast." |