This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22376266
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan are named | UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan are named |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three British soldiers who died after their armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan have been named. | Three British soldiers who died after their armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan have been named. |
| They were Cpl William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint from the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland | They were Cpl William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint from the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland |
| The third soldier was Pte Robert Hetherington, of the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion. | The third soldier was Pte Robert Hetherington, of the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion. |
| Six other soldiers were injured in the bomb blast in Helmand on Tuesday. | Six other soldiers were injured in the bomb blast in Helmand on Tuesday. |
| The attack was on a Mastiff vehicle, deemed one of the safest. David Cameron said he would consider "carefully" how the deaths had occurred. | The attack was on a Mastiff vehicle, deemed one of the safest. David Cameron said he would consider "carefully" how the deaths had occurred. |
| It is the first time British soldiers in a Mastiff vehicle, which was introduced in 2007, have been killed by a roadside bomb, the MoD said. | It is the first time British soldiers in a Mastiff vehicle, which was introduced in 2007, have been killed by a roadside bomb, the MoD said. |
| 'Love of my life' | 'Love of my life' |
| Cpl Savage, 30, leaves behind a wife, Lyndsey, who is expecting their first child. | |
| In a statement, Lyndsey said: "I am completely devastated by this news but extremely proud of 'Sav' and everything he has achieved. | In a statement, Lyndsey said: "I am completely devastated by this news but extremely proud of 'Sav' and everything he has achieved. |
| "I have lost the love of my life and the father of our son." | "I have lost the love of my life and the father of our son." |
| Fusilier Flint, 21, and originally from Blackpool, was "always the life and soul of the party", his family said. | Fusilier Flint, 21, and originally from Blackpool, was "always the life and soul of the party", his family said. |
| Lt Col Robin Lindsay, commanding officer of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, said he was a soldier "brimming with skill and ability". | Lt Col Robin Lindsay, commanding officer of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, said he was a soldier "brimming with skill and ability". |
| Pte Hetherington, who was born in the US but raised in Scotland, had been in the Army for just five months when he died. | Pte Hetherington, who was born in the US but raised in Scotland, had been in the Army for just five months when he died. |
| Lt Col Lindsay said he had taken to Army life "with gusto". | Lt Col Lindsay said he had taken to Army life "with gusto". |
| "He was immediately singled out as a highly effective infantryman; rated right at the top of his peer group," he said. | "He was immediately singled out as a highly effective infantryman; rated right at the top of his peer group," he said. |
| 'Served with distinction' | |
| Brig Rupert Jones, commander of Task Force Helmand, said: "The loss of these three brave Scottish soldiers comes as a great blow to everyone in the Task Force, but leaves us all the more determined in our task to do justice to their memory." | Brig Rupert Jones, commander of Task Force Helmand, said: "The loss of these three brave Scottish soldiers comes as a great blow to everyone in the Task Force, but leaves us all the more determined in our task to do justice to their memory." |
| Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "It is clear from the tributes paid to them that they were exceptional men who served their country with distinction." | Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "It is clear from the tributes paid to them that they were exceptional men who served their country with distinction." |
| Earlier, David Cameron paid tribute to the men, saying their deaths were "a reminder of the high price we have paid as a country to help give this country [Afghanistan] a chance of safety and security in the future". | |
| The blast occurred when the soldiers were travelling on a routine patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district. | The blast occurred when the soldiers were travelling on a routine patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district. |
| Afghan officials in Helmand told the BBC the bomb was made with "potent explosives and had metals and other items aimed at inflicting massive destruction". | Afghan officials in Helmand told the BBC the bomb was made with "potent explosives and had metals and other items aimed at inflicting massive destruction". |
| It is understood that seven military patients were flown out of Afghanistan to the UK on Wednesday afternoon. | |
| They are being treated at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the specialist centre for injured troops, but it is unclear how many of them were injured in the blast. |