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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Tributes paid to soldiers killed in Afghanistan | Tributes paid to soldiers killed in Afghanistan |
| (4 months later) | |
| The families of two British soldiers killed by a man dressed as a local Afghan policeman have paid tribute to their loved ones. | The families of two British soldiers killed by a man dressed as a local Afghan policeman have paid tribute to their loved ones. |
| Married father-of-two Sergeant Gareth Thursby, 29, and Private Thomas Wroe, 18, were shot dead in the south of Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, on Saturday. | Married father-of-two Sergeant Gareth Thursby, 29, and Private Thomas Wroe, 18, were shot dead in the south of Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, on Saturday. |
| The soldiers served in 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's). | The soldiers served in 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's). |
| The men were killed at a checkpoint when a man dressed as a local Afghan policeman pretended to be injured so they would help him, defence sources said. | The men were killed at a checkpoint when a man dressed as a local Afghan policeman pretended to be injured so they would help him, defence sources said. |
| Thursby from Skipton, North Yorkshire, is survived by his wife Louise and two children, Joshua and Ruby. | Thursby from Skipton, North Yorkshire, is survived by his wife Louise and two children, Joshua and Ruby. |
| His wife said: "Gareth was the love of my life. He was an amazing husband and father, happy, full of life and kind hearted with a passion for his work and family. He was brave, hard working, a loving husband who was a devoted father to his children. Our hero. | His wife said: "Gareth was the love of my life. He was an amazing husband and father, happy, full of life and kind hearted with a passion for his work and family. He was brave, hard working, a loving husband who was a devoted father to his children. Our hero. |
| Wroe was deployed to Afghanistan on 1 July, shortly after his 18th birthday. He is survived by his parents, Michael and Claire, and sister Demi, from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. | Wroe was deployed to Afghanistan on 1 July, shortly after his 18th birthday. He is survived by his parents, Michael and Claire, and sister Demi, from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. |
| His family said in a statement: "Our son Thomas was a brave young soldier, who is loved by his family, girlfriend and friends. | His family said in a statement: "Our son Thomas was a brave young soldier, who is loved by his family, girlfriend and friends. |
| "We can't believe you have been taken so soon from us. You will always be in our hearts for ever and ever. | "We can't believe you have been taken so soon from us. You will always be in our hearts for ever and ever. |
| "You would light up the room with your smile and bubbly personality. Our world will be a duller place without you. We are so proud of you son, on all you achieved and we are grateful for every special thing you gave us. We will always love you Tom." | "You would light up the room with your smile and bubbly personality. Our world will be a duller place without you. We are so proud of you son, on all you achieved and we are grateful for every special thing you gave us. We will always love you Tom." |
| Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, said: "I was saddened to hear of this cowardly act by a man wearing an Afghan local police uniform, which has taken the lives of two brave British soldiers. | Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, said: "I was saddened to hear of this cowardly act by a man wearing an Afghan local police uniform, which has taken the lives of two brave British soldiers. |
| "All of our thoughts are with the families of Sergeant Gareth Thursby and Private Thomas Wroe. They gave their lives protecting Britain's national security, helping to make sure that Afghanistan never again becomes a haven for international terrorism." | "All of our thoughts are with the families of Sergeant Gareth Thursby and Private Thomas Wroe. They gave their lives protecting Britain's national security, helping to make sure that Afghanistan never again becomes a haven for international terrorism." |
| Thursby, who had completed tours of duty in Kosovo and Iraq, was nicknamed Bull because of his strength and confidence. | Thursby, who had completed tours of duty in Kosovo and Iraq, was nicknamed Bull because of his strength and confidence. |
| His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Stenning, said: "He was admired and deeply respected by his soldiers and peers for his soldiering skills, physical strength and forthright honesty. Utterly professional, his standards were legendary." | His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Stenning, said: "He was admired and deeply respected by his soldiers and peers for his soldiering skills, physical strength and forthright honesty. Utterly professional, his standards were legendary." |
| He added: "I heard just a few weeks ago that he had told his platoon to call him Dad during the tour. That is how he saw himself; a father figure for 30 men and women involved in gruelling operations in Helmand." | He added: "I heard just a few weeks ago that he had told his platoon to call him Dad during the tour. That is how he saw himself; a father figure for 30 men and women involved in gruelling operations in Helmand." |
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