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/8507783.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Dead bomb disposal expert named | Dead bomb disposal expert named |
(10 minutes later) | |
A British bomb disposal expert killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan has been named as Warrant Officer class 2 David Markland. | A British bomb disposal expert killed by an explosion in southern Afghanistan has been named as Warrant Officer class 2 David Markland. |
WO2 Markland, from 36 Engineer Regiment, part of the Counter-IED Task Force, died after the blast in the Nad Ali district, Helmand, on Monday. | WO2 Markland, from 36 Engineer Regiment, part of the Counter-IED Task Force, died after the blast in the Nad Ali district, Helmand, on Monday. |
The soldier, originally of Euxton, Lancs, had been leading a team clearing routes of improvised explosive devices. | |
A total of 256 British personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001. | |
It means more British service personnel have now died in this conflict than were killed during the 1982 Falklands War. | |
The Ministry of Defence said WO2 Markland had been a "talismanic figure". | |
The married father-of-two had been in the Army for 20 years and was on his eighth operational tour. | |
His death came ahead of a major Nato-led offensive against the Taliban in Nad-e-Ali, called Operation Moshtarak. | |
In a statement, his family said: "Dave was a wonderful husband, father, son and brother. His family and friends all loved and adored him. | |
"Keelen and Logan will always remember how funny and playful Dad was. He was proud to be in the British army just like his dad. | |
"We are very proud of Dave's achievements in his Army career. His soldiers, friends and officers all respected his selflessness and admired his style of leadership." |