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| UK troops killed on patrol named | UK troops killed on patrol named |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Two British soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan when their vehicle was hit by an explosion on Wednesday have been named by the Ministry of Defence. | Two British soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan when their vehicle was hit by an explosion on Wednesday have been named by the Ministry of Defence. |
| Private Ben Ford, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, and Private Damian Wright, of Mansfield, Notts, died in a fight with the Taleban in Helmand province. | |
| A civilian interpreter died and another soldier was wounded in the battle, in which 20 suspected insurgents died. | A civilian interpreter died and another soldier was wounded in the battle, in which 20 suspected insurgents died. |
| The two soldiers were from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment. | The two soldiers were from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment. |
| 'Tremendous soldier' | 'Tremendous soldier' |
| Pte Ford, 18, joined the Army in 2005, and joined the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, which became the Mercian Regiment. | Pte Ford, 18, joined the Army in 2005, and joined the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, which became the Mercian Regiment. |
| He was on his first overseas deployment with the Army. | He was on his first overseas deployment with the Army. |
| Lt Col Simon Banton, his commanding officer in the Mercian Regiment, said: "Private Ford was a tremendous young soldier. Fit and enthusiastic, hardworking and committed to his comrades and a career in the Army." | Lt Col Simon Banton, his commanding officer in the Mercian Regiment, said: "Private Ford was a tremendous young soldier. Fit and enthusiastic, hardworking and committed to his comrades and a career in the Army." |
| On initial impressions he could come across as a quiet individual but to those who knew him, he had a keen sense of humour and was always willing to get stuck into the action Maj Paul Gilby | On initial impressions he could come across as a quiet individual but to those who knew him, he had a keen sense of humour and was always willing to get stuck into the action Maj Paul Gilby |
| Maj Paul Gilby, his company commanding officer, said: "He was young on paper, at the age of only 18. However, in life he was mature beyond his years in attitude, bearing and ability. | Maj Paul Gilby, his company commanding officer, said: "He was young on paper, at the age of only 18. However, in life he was mature beyond his years in attitude, bearing and ability. |
| "On initial impressions he could come across as a quiet individual but to those who knew him, he had a keen sense of humour and was always willing to get stuck into the action. | "On initial impressions he could come across as a quiet individual but to those who knew him, he had a keen sense of humour and was always willing to get stuck into the action. |
| "He proved this by volunteering to compete in the battalion boxing competition where he fought with skill, style and dogged determination." | "He proved this by volunteering to compete in the battalion boxing competition where he fought with skill, style and dogged determination." |
| Pte Scott Barber, a close friend, said: "At weekends we would go out around the town in Chesterfield and almost instantly all my mates were Fordy's mates, he was such a likeable bloke. He was always up for a laugh, the life and soul of any party." | Pte Scott Barber, a close friend, said: "At weekends we would go out around the town in Chesterfield and almost instantly all my mates were Fordy's mates, he was such a likeable bloke. He was always up for a laugh, the life and soul of any party." |
| A statement released on behalf of his family said: "We are immensely proud of our son and know that he lost his life doing something he was proud to be a part of and that he loved. " | A statement released on behalf of his family said: "We are immensely proud of our son and know that he lost his life doing something he was proud to be a part of and that he loved. " |
| 'Key character' | 'Key character' |
| Pte Wright, 23, joined the Army in 2002, and served in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Bosnia. He also took part in exercises in Kenya, Belize and Cyprus. | Pte Wright, 23, joined the Army in 2002, and served in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Bosnia. He also took part in exercises in Kenya, Belize and Cyprus. |
| Lt Col Simon Banton said: "Pte Wright was one of the key characters in our battalion. | Lt Col Simon Banton said: "Pte Wright was one of the key characters in our battalion. |
| "Full of life, a natural comedian and a man guaranteed to lift the spirits of the most down-hearted. | "Full of life, a natural comedian and a man guaranteed to lift the spirits of the most down-hearted. |
| Pte Damian Wright: Devoted to his four-year-old son | Pte Damian Wright: Devoted to his four-year-old son |
| "He was devoted to his son, Joshua, and our thoughts are with him at this desperate time." | "He was devoted to his son, Joshua, and our thoughts are with him at this desperate time." |
| Maj Paul Gilby said: "Small in stature but mighty in character, spirit and life, he was never far from the action, jokes or dramas. | Maj Paul Gilby said: "Small in stature but mighty in character, spirit and life, he was never far from the action, jokes or dramas. |
| "His main love of his life was his four-year-old son Joshua, who our heart goes out to at this hour. | "His main love of his life was his four-year-old son Joshua, who our heart goes out to at this hour. |
| "Quick-witted, able and professional he had already been selected to attend promotional courses where he would have excelled as usual. | "Quick-witted, able and professional he had already been selected to attend promotional courses where he would have excelled as usual. |
| "He was a true soldier, fit, determined, able and keen." | "He was a true soldier, fit, determined, able and keen." |
| 'Courage' | 'Courage' |
| The battle took place at 0915 local time (0445 GMT) on Wednesday, when they were on routine patrol in a Landrover 10.5 miles (17km) north of Lashkar Gah. | The battle took place at 0915 local time (0445 GMT) on Wednesday, when they were on routine patrol in a Landrover 10.5 miles (17km) north of Lashkar Gah. |
| Lt Col Bridget Rose, Regional Command South spokesperson, said the explosion was a "profoundly regrettable incident". | Lt Col Bridget Rose, Regional Command South spokesperson, said the explosion was a "profoundly regrettable incident". |
| Small in stature but mighty in character, spirit and life, he was never far from the action, jokes or dramas Maj Paul Gilby pays tribute to Pte Damian Wright | Small in stature but mighty in character, spirit and life, he was never far from the action, jokes or dramas Maj Paul Gilby pays tribute to Pte Damian Wright |
| "Isaf (International Security Assistance Force) troops, and the Afghans who work alongside them, operate in extremely dangerous conditions," she said. | "Isaf (International Security Assistance Force) troops, and the Afghans who work alongside them, operate in extremely dangerous conditions," she said. |
| "It is a testament to their courage, resolve and commitment that they continue to bear down on insurgents bent on destroying the lives of the normal hard-working people in Afghanistan." | "It is a testament to their courage, resolve and commitment that they continue to bear down on insurgents bent on destroying the lives of the normal hard-working people in Afghanistan." |
| Their deaths take to 76 the total number of UK troops killed while on operations in Afghanistan since 2001. | Their deaths take to 76 the total number of UK troops killed while on operations in Afghanistan since 2001. |
| British troops are there as part of the UN-mandated Isaf force, created in December 2001 after the ousting of the Taleban regime. | British troops are there as part of the UN-mandated Isaf force, created in December 2001 after the ousting of the Taleban regime. |
| Some 35,000 Nato-led forces from 37 countries are providing support to the Afghan authorities throughout the country. | Some 35,000 Nato-led forces from 37 countries are providing support to the Afghan authorities throughout the country. |