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The two soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday gave their lives to stop Taliban suicide bombers reaching their target, their commanding officer has revealed.

Lance Corporal David Kirkness, 24, and Rifleman James Brown, 18, both of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, were killed while manning a vehicle checkpoint near Sangin in Helmand province.

Two Afghan soldiers were also killed in the suicide attack.

L/Cpl Kirkness, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and Rfn Brown, from Farnborough, Hampshire, were taking part in a joint security operation with Afghan forces on a route into central Sangin.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson said their comrades took comfort and pride from the fact that they averted a "much larger tragedy".

"Their sacrifice prevented two suicide bombers from reaching their intended target, the bustling and ever more prosperous Sangin bazaar, packed with local Afghans going about their daily business," he said.

L/Cpl Kirkness, who joined 3 Rifles in March 2004, had completed a demanding sniper course and studied the local language of Pashtu before deploying to Afghanistan in October. He leaves a three-year-old daughter, Brooke.

His colleagues paid tribute to a professional and level-headed soldier with a "massive heart which was all too often worn on his sleeve".

Lt Col Kitson said: "We of the Rifles have lost a brother. He died doing a job for which he was the keenest of volunteers, a job he loved and for which he was made.

"His memory, commitment and selflessness will be for ever revered. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We all have much of which we can be truly proud."

His parents said in a statement: "If you knew David, you had to love him - it was impossible not to. And in David's own words, 'If you didn't know me, hard luck'. He will always be in our hearts."

Rfn Brown only joined the Army this year, and had arrived with B Company of 3 Rifles less than a fortnight ago.

Lt Col Kitson said: "He had been with the battalion for a desperately short time but was showing the promising signs of a soldier with a bright future.

"He had already made a lasting impression on his fellow riflemen with his immense courage, infectious confidence and talent for making people laugh."

"Our thoughts are with his family, for whom this will have been the bitterest of blows."

Paying tribute in a statement, his family said: "You were a true hero and will be dearly missed. We all love you so much.

"You died a hero living your dream and you will always be in our thoughts. Your actions will always speak louder than words ever could."

A total of 239 British service personnel have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001, including 102 deaths this year.


RIP HEROES

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Welcome home The Black Watch, 3 SCOTS

With over 210 soldiers killed in Afghanistan and MoD figures showing that in the month of July 2009 alone there were 94 injuries associated with the war in Afghanistan, the time is right for a charity dedicated to the welfare of those directly involved in the conflict.

The mother of a soldier who died in an explosion in Afghanistan in July had the idea to set up a charity to provide support for those directly involved in the conflict.

Afghan Heroes has been launched by a group of mothers with the aim of helping our service personnel directly on the front line; the families of those who have fallen and our returning service personnel who have witnessed these horrific losses of their fellow comrades.

Afghan Heroes is independent of other charities. It deals specifically with members of the British forces and their families that have been affected by the military operations in Afghanistan now and into the future. The intention is to operate until a minimum of five-years from the cessation of our military presence in Afghanistan.

Afghan Heroes will deliver support through:

1. The “thank a soldier” initiative.
2. The provision of home comforts to those serving in Afghanistan.
3. Motivational and morale boosting support directly to our forces on the front line via your letters and news letters.
4. A support network for the families of the fallen, creating an open environment where families can give support to each other.
5. Supporting the many returning soldiers who have witnessed these horrific atrocities in the course of performing their duties.

Check out there website www.afghanheroes.org.uk




Help for Heroes was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry in October 2007 out of a desire to help the wounded Servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

The message of the charity is simple: We are strictly non political and non critical; we simply want to help. We believe that anyone who volunteers to serve in time of war, knowing that they may risk all, is a hero. These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things and some of them are living with the consequences of their service for life. We may not be able to prevent our soldiers from being wounded, but together we can help them get better.


There website is www.helpforheroes.org.uk

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Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Named

The Soldier killed yesterday in Afghanistan was today Named as Lance Corporal Adam Paul Dran. He was 23, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and served in the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment.

Lance Corporal Drane died whilst carrying out security duties at Check Point Paraang in southern Nad e-Ali, Helmand province.

He deployed to Afghanistan as a Section Second-in-Command within C (Essex) Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, attached to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Battle Group.

Lance Corporal Drane was employed within 6 Platoon, C (Essex) Company. He was responsible for commanding a four-man 'fire team' and as such was charged with engaging with and reassuring the local population as well as defeating the insurgents in one of Helmand province's most challenging areas. He had been conducting this task for nearly two months.

His colleagues said the engaged soldier had been "an extremely kind individual who had a wonderful sense of humour".

Maj Chris Barry, of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, said "his quiet and intelligent personality made him an effective and humble leader".

"His love of music, warm sense of humour and fun were appreciated by everybody and his death is felt by all," he added.

His parents, Desmond and Jackie Drane, said there were "no words" to describe their loss.

The keen boxer and music fan had been in Afghanistan for about two months, where he came under attack almost every day.

L/Cpl Drane was shot while carrying out security duties at a checkpoint in the Nad-e Ali area on Monday afternoon.

The death brought the total number of British service personnel who have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 to 237.

There were 39 deaths in 2006, 42 in 2007 and 51 in 2008.

This year has been the bloodiest for British forces since the Falklands War in 1982.

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Another Sad Day As 100th British Soldier Killed


A sad milestone has been passed today as the 100th British soldier was killed today in Afghanistan. The Soldier who has not been named yet

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lt Col David Wakefield, said: "It is with great sadness I must confirm that a soldier from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment was shot and killed in Helmand province this afternoon.

"He was one of us, one of our fellow soldiers, and we will remember him."

The soldier who was from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment died after a gunshot wound in an incident in central Helmand Province in the afternoon. Next of kin have been told.

Head of the British army, Gen Sir David Richards, said the milestone death had hardened "our determination to succeed".

"There are real grounds for optimism. We have made substantial progress in Helmand and throughout Afghanistan," he said.

"Political resolve is firm; the necessary resources and manpower will be flowing into Afghanistan to allow us to do the job.

A total of 11 servicemen from the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment have died in Afghanistan since the start of operations.

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Wow what a few days its been. Ive been working hard putting together our new website which I hope to finish in the next few days. So far its looking very good.

So my last entry there's been a surge of troops entering Afghanistan, Us sending in 30,000 troops and another 8,000 from other Nato nations. France and Germany are not expected to reach a decision til end of January.

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A soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan has been named as Acting Sgt John Amer.

A/Sgt Amer, 30, of 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, died from his wounds after an explosion in the Babaji area, in central Helmand Province on Monday.

The Sunderland man's widow Sue said: "I am devastated by the loss of my loving husband John. I have lost my true love, my heart has been broken."

His death brought the number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 236.

A/Sgt Amer was also the 99th British casualty of 2009.

'Overwhelming pain'

Mrs Amer said: "The whole world should know that John was the best father that our daughter could have wished for.

"This cruel world has taken a hero who touched the hearts of everyone he met, a very special man who brought joy and laughter.

"The Army was John's world, he was mine. He was my best friend, the pain of losing him is overwhelming."

A/Sgt Amer was fatally wounded as he went to help a colleague who had been wounded in another explosion moments earlier.

His commanding officer, Lt Col Toby Gray, described A/Sgt Amer as a man with an "enormous heart" who was "cherished by his friends and respected by his seniors".

Lt Col Gray said: "He was like the benevolent uncle, respected and loved by them all. His soldiers were happy and proud to serve with a man with integrity, honour and one of the keenest senses of humour in the Battalion.

"We have lost one of the very finest soldiers in the regiment. He died saving a comrade and doing the job he both loved and excelled at. To the last, he was thinking of others."

Sgt Mathew Nichol said he considered himself "one of the luckiest men alive" to have worked alongside A/Sgt Amer for the past 13 years.

'Best friend for life'

He said: "From the first moment we met all those years ago on the way to Germany to join the Battalion, I knew I had a best friend for life. John really was one of a kind and left a lasting impression on anyone that knew him.

"The word 'legend' is used far too often but for my friend John it describes him perfectly. A completely selfless man who would do anything for his blokes and would never put himself before them, he was loved by all."

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, said: "I was extremely saddened to learn of the death of Sgt John Amer, a soldier described by all those who knew him as an outstanding senior non-commissioned officer.

"He was respected equally by his men and his seniors, all of whom will be feeling his loss greatly.

"My deepest sympathies are, of course, with Sgt Amer's family, friends and colleagues at this most painful time for them."

Rest in Peace to another HERO

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