Royal Scots Borderer dies in Helmand blast

Published on Sunday 5 September 2010 17:50

A BRITISH soldier from The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan yesterday, the Ministry of Defence said.

The soldier was serving as part of the Brigade Recon- naissance Force when killed by a blast in the Nad-e Ali District of Helmand Province. His next of kin have been informed.

Task Force Helmand spokesman Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith said: "Selfless in the course of his duty he will be missed by his many friends.

"He was an inspirational soldier. We will remember him."

A second British soldier died in hospital in the UK yesterday. The serviceman, from the 2nd Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, after he was injured in an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj area of Helmand last month. His family has been informed.

It has been a bloody year for British troops in Afghanistan, with 89 having died so far in 2010. That brings the total deaths of UK personnel since the start of operations in October 2001 to 334.