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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| UK troops killed in Helmand named | UK troops killed in Helmand named |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two British servicemen killed in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday have been named by the Ministry of Defence. | Two British servicemen killed in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday have been named by the Ministry of Defence. |
| They were Captain Tom Sawyer, 26, of the Royal Artillery, and Corporal Danny Winter, 28, of the Royal Marines. | They were Captain Tom Sawyer, 26, of the Royal Artillery, and Corporal Danny Winter, 28, of the Royal Marines. |
| They died in an explosion while taking part in an operation against enemy forces in central Helmand province. Two other soldiers were hurt in the blast. | They died in an explosion while taking part in an operation against enemy forces in central Helmand province. Two other soldiers were hurt in the blast. |
| Their deaths took the number of British forces to die since the start of operations in October 2001 to 141. | Their deaths took the number of British forces to die since the start of operations in October 2001 to 141. |
| The MoD said Capt Sawyer and Cpl Winter were taking part in a joint operation with a Danish battle group and the Afghan National Army, north east of the town of Gereshk. | The MoD said Capt Sawyer and Cpl Winter were taking part in a joint operation with a Danish battle group and the Afghan National Army, north east of the town of Gereshk. |
| Their aim was to clear compounds in a known Taliban stronghold. | Their aim was to clear compounds in a known Taliban stronghold. |
| 'Selfless legacy' | 'Selfless legacy' |
| Capt Sawyer, from Hertfordshire, had been married for less than a year. His family paid tribute to him, calling him "loyal, loud and loving". | Capt Sawyer, from Hertfordshire, had been married for less than a year. His family paid tribute to him, calling him "loyal, loud and loving". |
| "Tom was the best husband, son and brother we could ever have asked for," they said in a statement. | "Tom was the best husband, son and brother we could ever have asked for," they said in a statement. |
| "He will leave a big hole in all of our lives, but will always be remembered as our hero." | "He will leave a big hole in all of our lives, but will always be remembered as our hero." |
| Capt Sawyer had hoped to pursue a career in the special forces. His commanding officer Lt Col Neil Wilson said he "excelled as an instructor and mentor". Both died doing jobs they loved and for a cause vitally important to their country Defence Secretary John Hutton | |
| "On operations, this selfless legacy, though immeasurable, has undoubtedly helped save the lives of both Afghans and British servicemen alike," he added. | "On operations, this selfless legacy, though immeasurable, has undoubtedly helped save the lives of both Afghans and British servicemen alike," he added. |
| Cpl Winter, who was from Stockport, was his company's mortar expert and had previously served in Northern Ireland and Iraq. | Cpl Winter, who was from Stockport, was his company's mortar expert and had previously served in Northern Ireland and Iraq. |
| He was described as "an irreplaceable character" and a devoted Manchester United fan. | He was described as "an irreplaceable character" and a devoted Manchester United fan. |
| His commanding officer Lt Col Jim Morris said he was "an exceptional marine". | His commanding officer Lt Col Jim Morris said he was "an exceptional marine". |
| "Brave, committed, extremely determined and operationally experienced, he had a gift for giving honest advice and opinion without raising hackles and he was tremendously well respected by all ranks as a result," he said. | "Brave, committed, extremely determined and operationally experienced, he had a gift for giving honest advice and opinion without raising hackles and he was tremendously well respected by all ranks as a result," he said. |
| "He was killed right at the forefront of an operation whilst providing the measured and balanced advice to his commander that had become his trademark." | "He was killed right at the forefront of an operation whilst providing the measured and balanced advice to his commander that had become his trademark." |
| Defence Secretary John Hutton said Britain owed both men "a debt". | |
| "It was with great sadness that I learnt of the deaths of Captain Tom Sawyer and Corporal Danny Winter, one a proven mentor and leader and the other an NCO of great professionalism and experience," he said. | |
| "Both died doing jobs they loved and for a cause vitally important to their country." |