Minister leads tributes to 'courageous' soldiers killed in Afghan blast

Published on Thursday 18 March 2010 21:38

TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to two British soldiers killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Lance-Corporal Scott Hardy and Private James Grigg, both from the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, died on Tuesday north of Musa Qala.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "They were both courageous, dedicated men who died fighting to bring greater security to Afghanistan and the UK.

"It is clear to me that Lance-Corporal Hardy was a natural leader of men and brought valuable maturity and experience to his role. Private Grigg was an intelligent young man whose passion for and skill at cricket had made him a popular member of his battalion."

L-Cpl Hardy, 26, was from Chelmsford in Essex and had served in Afghanistan since October last year.

His family and girlfriend released a statement saying: "Possessing great inner strength and a powerful personality, Scott could be relied upon, even in the worst of situations, to lift his men's morale. They loved him – he loved them.

"While being a highly competitive man, his role as a dearly loved son, brother, uncle and partner developed his gift for attentiveness towards those around him."

Pte Grigg, 21, was born in Hartismere, Suffolk, and lived in Stradbroke, near Eye.

His family said: "James was a truly wonderful son, and a loving brother to Victoria. He was a team player in every sense – in the family, as a sportsman and as an infantry soldier. He was a village lad – his will be a terrible loss to the Stradbroke community.

"James's loss will leave a space in our family life. We grieve deeply but at the same time feel greatly honoured that he should have served his country this way."

A total of 275 British troops have died in the Afghan conflict since operations began in 200, 26 of them in Musa Qala.