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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Dead UK Afghanistan marine named | Dead UK Afghanistan marine named |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A Royal Marine killed on a special mission in Afghanistan has been named as Lance Corporal Michael Jones. | |
| The 26-year-old, of Newbald, Yorkshire, died on Sunday in a gun battle with Taleban insurgents in Nimruz province in the south west of the country. | |
| L/Cpl Jones joined the Royal Marines at the age of 18, and served in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
| His death means four members of the UK armed forces have been killed in that region in the past week. | His death means four members of the UK armed forces have been killed in that region in the past week. |
| Since 2001, there have been 68 UK military fatalities in Afghanistan. | Since 2001, there have been 68 UK military fatalities in Afghanistan. |
| 'Loyal friend' | |
| His commanding officer, who has not been named, said Michael was a "truly exceptional junior non-commissioned officer, the best at his level". | |
| He said he "unflinchingly stood, time after time, shoulder to shoulder with his friends in the very worst of conditions". | |
| "It will be impossible to replace Michael. He will be remembered as a genuine and loyal friend whose selfless bravery whilst assaulting a formidable Taleban position is an example to us all," he said. | |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne said L/Cpl Jones was "an experienced and courageous Royal Marine", whose contribution would not be forgotten. | |
| The UK has 7,100 troops in Helmand province, making it one of the largest contributors of armed forces to the Nato mission in Afghanistan. |