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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Soldier killed in Afghanistan named as Capt Richard Holloway | Soldier killed in Afghanistan named as Capt Richard Holloway |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A British soldier killed in Afghanistan two days before Christmas has been named as Captain Richard Holloway, of The Royal Engineers. | |
| The Ministry of Defence said the 29-year-old from County Durham was killed in action while on operations east of Kabul on Monday. | The Ministry of Defence said the 29-year-old from County Durham was killed in action while on operations east of Kabul on Monday. |
| Capt Holloway's family described him as an "exceptional young man" who "embraced life to the full". | Capt Holloway's family described him as an "exceptional young man" who "embraced life to the full". |
| He is the 447th British soldier to be killed since the war began in 2001. | |
| In a statement, his parents, Jaquie and Neil, said: "Our son Richard was an exceptional young man, a perfectionist in everything he did and a loyal brother and friend, who embraced life to the full." | In a statement, his parents, Jaquie and Neil, said: "Our son Richard was an exceptional young man, a perfectionist in everything he did and a loyal brother and friend, who embraced life to the full." |
| They added: "The sense of adventure he experienced with the Royal Engineers was echoed in his love of travel to faraway places and physical activity including surfing, kayaking, canoeing, mountain-biking and climbing. | They added: "The sense of adventure he experienced with the Royal Engineers was echoed in his love of travel to faraway places and physical activity including surfing, kayaking, canoeing, mountain-biking and climbing. |
| "Wherever the action was, he wanted to be part of it - and that is where our beloved son, of whom we are so very proud, lost his life." | "Wherever the action was, he wanted to be part of it - and that is where our beloved son, of whom we are so very proud, lost his life." |
| 'Never a second wasted' | 'Never a second wasted' |
| His commanding officer described him as "one of the best; a natural leader". | His commanding officer described him as "one of the best; a natural leader". |
| "His tactical ability commanded wide respect; his judgement was unerring, his enthusiasm was infectious and his standards never dropped. | "His tactical ability commanded wide respect; his judgement was unerring, his enthusiasm was infectious and his standards never dropped. |
| "He had a humble self-confidence that instinctively drew people to him. His own brand of selflessness and professionalism marked him out as a soldier, but it was the warmth of his personality that set him out as a popular and effective leader." | "He had a humble self-confidence that instinctively drew people to him. His own brand of selflessness and professionalism marked him out as a soldier, but it was the warmth of his personality that set him out as a popular and effective leader." |
| Capt Ed Martin, Royal Engineers, said: "There was never a second wasted with Rich, he always had a plan and made the most of every day. | Capt Ed Martin, Royal Engineers, said: "There was never a second wasted with Rich, he always had a plan and made the most of every day. |
| "He lived life to the full and was an inspiration to others to do the same. I have never met a more trustworthy, loyal or dedicated friend, he had humility in spades and I would have followed him anywhere." | "He lived life to the full and was an inspiration to others to do the same. I have never met a more trustworthy, loyal or dedicated friend, he had humility in spades and I would have followed him anywhere." |
| During a pre-Christmas visit to the troops in Helmand, Prime Minister David Cameron said the British mission in Afghanistan had been "accomplished". | During a pre-Christmas visit to the troops in Helmand, Prime Minister David Cameron said the British mission in Afghanistan had been "accomplished". |
| Outside of Camp Bastion there are now just four British bases in operation and those are due to close next year. | Outside of Camp Bastion there are now just four British bases in operation and those are due to close next year. |
| The number of military personnel in Afghanistan has been reduced from 9,000 to around 5,200 in 2013. | The number of military personnel in Afghanistan has been reduced from 9,000 to around 5,200 in 2013. |