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| Soldier shot on Afghan patrol named | Soldier shot on Afghan patrol named |
| (4 months later) | |
| A British soldier who died after being shot while on patrol in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence as Guardsman Michael Roland, from 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. | A British soldier who died after being shot while on patrol in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence as Guardsman Michael Roland, from 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. |
| Roland, 22, from Worthing, Sussex, had been in Afghanistan for less than four weeks when he was shot during a patrol in the Nahr-e-Saraj north district of Helmand province on Friday. | Roland, 22, from Worthing, Sussex, had been in Afghanistan for less than four weeks when he was shot during a patrol in the Nahr-e-Saraj north district of Helmand province on Friday. |
| The father of twins was on the second day of a three-day operation to disrupt insurgent activity in a contested area in the north of the district when he was shot, and he died later in Camp Bastion. | The father of twins was on the second day of a three-day operation to disrupt insurgent activity in a contested area in the north of the district when he was shot, and he died later in Camp Bastion. |
| Roland's family paid tribute to him in a statement, saying: "Michael was a loving and caring son loved by his huge extended family and friends who are devastated by their loss. | Roland's family paid tribute to him in a statement, saying: "Michael was a loving and caring son loved by his huge extended family and friends who are devastated by their loss. |
| "We are still coming to terms with losing him. | "We are still coming to terms with losing him. |
| "Michael always wanted to join the army and was so proud to be part of Queen's Company Grenadier Guards. | "Michael always wanted to join the army and was so proud to be part of Queen's Company Grenadier Guards. |
| "Michael loved us all so much; with us he was not big and tough, just gentle. We will miss him so much." | "Michael loved us all so much; with us he was not big and tough, just gentle. We will miss him so much." |
| Lieutenant Colonel James Bowder, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, said: "Guardsman Roland's death is a tremendous loss to a close Battalion. | Lieutenant Colonel James Bowder, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, said: "Guardsman Roland's death is a tremendous loss to a close Battalion. |
| "Sparky, diligent and super-fit, he was a terrific soldier with a bright future. That he achieved so much in his short life is testament to his drive and ambition. | "Sparky, diligent and super-fit, he was a terrific soldier with a bright future. That he achieved so much in his short life is testament to his drive and ambition. |
| "He was an absolute pleasure to command and will be missed hugely by the Battalion and the regimental family as a whole. | "He was an absolute pleasure to command and will be missed hugely by the Battalion and the regimental family as a whole. |
| Major Piers Ashfield, Captain of The Queen's Company, said Roland was one of the "leading lights of The Queen's Company". | Major Piers Ashfield, Captain of The Queen's Company, said Roland was one of the "leading lights of The Queen's Company". |
| "His stoic devotion to duty and the generous friendship he offered to all those he met epitomised the man for whom no hardship was worthy of complaint," said Major Ashfield. | "His stoic devotion to duty and the generous friendship he offered to all those he met epitomised the man for whom no hardship was worthy of complaint," said Major Ashfield. |
| The defence secretary, Philip Hammond, said: "I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Guardsman Michael Roland. | The defence secretary, Philip Hammond, said: "I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Guardsman Michael Roland. |
| "It is clear that he was a brave man and highly professional soldier. The circumstances of his death by all accounts sum up his army life: in the thick of the fight and looking out for his comrades. | "It is clear that he was a brave man and highly professional soldier. The circumstances of his death by all accounts sum up his army life: in the thick of the fight and looking out for his comrades. |
| "I can only endorse the tributes paid to him by his family, for whom he was a hero. They have my deepest sympathy." | "I can only endorse the tributes paid to him by his family, for whom he was a hero. They have my deepest sympathy." |
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