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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Soldier killed by grenade named | Soldier killed by grenade named |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier killed in a grenade attack in southern Afghanistan has been named as Lance Corporal of Horse Jonathan Woodgate. | A British soldier killed in a grenade attack in southern Afghanistan has been named as Lance Corporal of Horse Jonathan Woodgate. |
| L/Cpl Woodgate, 27, of the Household Cavalry Regiment, was serving with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force when the attack happened near Sangin on Friday. | |
| It was due to be the final patrol of his current tour of duty. | It was due to be the final patrol of his current tour of duty. |
| Earlier the Ministry of Defence said a soldier from The Rifles had been killed in Helmand. Next of kin have been told. | |
| The soldier died on Saturday afternoon while on patrol after an explosion 1km east of Sangin. | |
| He is the eighth soldier from The Rifles to have died in the conflict this month. | |
| Some 276 British military personnel have now been killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001. | |
| The death was not related to Operation Moshtarak, a major offensive against the Taliban involving thousands of British troops. | |
| 'Immense charisma' | |
| L/Cpl Woodgate, killed on Friday, was on foot patrol when a grenade was thrown at him from behind a wall. | |
| Col Wakefield, of the UK's task force Helmand operation in Afghanistan, said at the time: "He was doing what the soldiers of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force have done throughout their tour in Helmand, boldly and relentlessly taking the fight to the insurgents." | |
| Born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, L/Cpl Woodgate attended Great Cornard Upper School before joining the Army Foundation College in 2001. | |
| After completing his training, he moved to Windsor and the Household Cavalry Regiment. | |
| L/Cpl Woodgate's family said in a statement they were "immensely proud" of him, describing him as a "son, brother and friend who was so brave and dedicated to his career". | L/Cpl Woodgate's family said in a statement they were "immensely proud" of him, describing him as a "son, brother and friend who was so brave and dedicated to his career". |
| "We feel so very, very lucky to have had Jo in our lives," the statement said. | "We feel so very, very lucky to have had Jo in our lives," the statement said. |
| It is a cruel blow that he was killed so near to the end of this tour Lt Col Harry Fullerton | |
| "He was more than just a professional soldier, he was a friendly young man with immense charisma, humour and artistic flair whose laid-back manner belied a great strength of character. | |
| "Jo was self-disciplined, focused and carried out his duty to the very best of his abilities." | |
| Lt Col Harry Fullerton, commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, said: "Jo Woodgate was one of our finest soldiers. | |
| "Known affectionately by his friends and comrades as Woody, he was hugely popular, tremendously capable and a truly consummate, professional warrior." | |
| L/Cpl Woodgate had risen rapidly through the ranks and was considered "a young man who was destined for the very top", Col Fullerton said. | |
| He added: "It is a cruel blow that he was killed so near to the end of this tour." |