This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7790924.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Soldier 'showed great potential' | Soldier 'showed great potential' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British Army soldier killed by enemy gunfire in southern Afghanistan has been named as Rifleman Stuart Nash. | A British Army soldier killed by enemy gunfire in southern Afghanistan has been named as Rifleman Stuart Nash. |
| The Ministry of Defence said Rifleman Nash, 21, from the 1st Battalion The Rifles, was an Australian national and his family lived in Australia. | The Ministry of Defence said Rifleman Nash, 21, from the 1st Battalion The Rifles, was an Australian national and his family lived in Australia. |
| His parents said they were "shattered" by the death of their son. | His parents said they were "shattered" by the death of their son. |
| Rifleman Nash had only joined the Army in March. His team commander described him as "one of the most promising new soldiers" he had worked with. | |
| His parents, Bill and Amanda Nash, said: "We are shattered, of course, by the news but Stuart was doing what he most wanted to do in life, having harboured a wish for a military career since joining the cadets at the age of 13. | His parents, Bill and Amanda Nash, said: "We are shattered, of course, by the news but Stuart was doing what he most wanted to do in life, having harboured a wish for a military career since joining the cadets at the age of 13. |
| "He went to the UK to join up to get a better opportunity to do real soldiering, which he has done, if only briefly." | "He went to the UK to join up to get a better opportunity to do real soldiering, which he has done, if only briefly." |
| He was a polite man of strong faith who was always happy, and always ready to put others before himself Major Robert Connolly | He was a polite man of strong faith who was always happy, and always ready to put others before himself Major Robert Connolly |
| An MoD spokesman said Rifleman Nash was taking part in an operation against enemy forces in an area north west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand. | An MoD spokesman said Rifleman Nash was taking part in an operation against enemy forces in an area north west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand. |
| Rifleman Nash was wounded on Wednesday as he covered comrades from a compound rooftop. | Rifleman Nash was wounded on Wednesday as he covered comrades from a compound rooftop. |
| He was treated at the scene and then flown to Camp Bastion for further treatment, but died from his injuries. | He was treated at the scene and then flown to Camp Bastion for further treatment, but died from his injuries. |
| His death takes the number of UK troops killed in Afghanistan to 134. | His death takes the number of UK troops killed in Afghanistan to 134. |
| 'Gentlemanly manner' | 'Gentlemanly manner' |
| Rifleman Nash was born in Sydney and had only enlisted in The Rifles in Gloucester this year. | Rifleman Nash was born in Sydney and had only enlisted in The Rifles in Gloucester this year. |
| He attended the combat infantryman's course at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire. | He attended the combat infantryman's course at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire. |
| Major Robert Connolly, his company commander at Catterick, said he was a "thoroughly professional young soldier who embodied the value of the British Army". | Major Robert Connolly, his company commander at Catterick, said he was a "thoroughly professional young soldier who embodied the value of the British Army". |
| He talked of his desire to buy a sports car and tinker with it on return to the UK, such was his constant, optimistic and industrious approach to life Major Mark Nooney Afghanistan war dead flown home | He talked of his desire to buy a sports car and tinker with it on return to the UK, such was his constant, optimistic and industrious approach to life Major Mark Nooney Afghanistan war dead flown home |
| Rifleman Nash passed out of Catterick on 19 September and was assigned to the 1st Battalion The Rifles in Chepstow. | Rifleman Nash passed out of Catterick on 19 September and was assigned to the 1st Battalion The Rifles in Chepstow. |
| Following pre-deployment training in the UK, he joined the battalion on operations in Afghanistan, where he was quickly christened "Oz" by his fellow Riflemen. | Following pre-deployment training in the UK, he joined the battalion on operations in Afghanistan, where he was quickly christened "Oz" by his fellow Riflemen. |
| Maj Connolly added: "Although the newest and youngest member of his team, his gentlemanly manner and thorough professionalism instantly gained him acceptance. | Maj Connolly added: "Although the newest and youngest member of his team, his gentlemanly manner and thorough professionalism instantly gained him acceptance. |
| "He was a polite man of strong faith who was always happy, and was always ready to put others before himself. | "He was a polite man of strong faith who was always happy, and was always ready to put others before himself. |
| "If he was ever the man left behind, the returning patrol was always greeted with chopped wood for a fire and hot water for brews." | "If he was ever the man left behind, the returning patrol was always greeted with chopped wood for a fire and hot water for brews." |
| Modest and honest | Modest and honest |
| His commanding officer in Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Cavanagh, had a "brew" with him the day before he was killed. | His commanding officer in Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Cavanagh, had a "brew" with him the day before he was killed. |
| Lt Col Cavanagh said: "He was honest about the difficulty and danger of his work, modest about his own reserves of courage, robust and determined to succeed. | Lt Col Cavanagh said: "He was honest about the difficulty and danger of his work, modest about his own reserves of courage, robust and determined to succeed. |
| "He was already enthusing - utterly realistically - about joining the battalion's reconnaissance or sniper platoons after this operation in Afghanistan. He would have been superb in either. | "He was already enthusing - utterly realistically - about joining the battalion's reconnaissance or sniper platoons after this operation in Afghanistan. He would have been superb in either. |
| "He fell a hero, in combat alongside his fellow Riflemen." | "He fell a hero, in combat alongside his fellow Riflemen." |
| Rifleman Nash's battle group commander Major Mark Nooney said he was "young, bright and ambitious" and showed "great potential". | Rifleman Nash's battle group commander Major Mark Nooney said he was "young, bright and ambitious" and showed "great potential". |
| "He talked of his desire to buy a sports car and tinker with it on return to the UK, such was his constant, optimistic and industrious approach to life," said Maj Nooney. | "He talked of his desire to buy a sports car and tinker with it on return to the UK, such was his constant, optimistic and industrious approach to life," said Maj Nooney. |
| Rifleman Nash's team commander, Captain Iwan Williams, said: "He was one of the most promising new soldiers I have worked with; his intelligence and enthusiasm marked him out among his peers. | Rifleman Nash's team commander, Captain Iwan Williams, said: "He was one of the most promising new soldiers I have worked with; his intelligence and enthusiasm marked him out among his peers. |
| "He will be missed greatly." | "He will be missed greatly." |