Scot among paras killed in suicide blast

Published on Tuesday 10 June 2008 01:40

A SCOTTISH teenager was among the three soldiers whose deaths in Afghanistan brought the total number of British fatalities to 100.

Private David Murray, 19, had followed his uncle and grandfathers into the army and was the Parachute Regiment’s champion recruit. He had been in Afghanistan for two months when he and two colleagues were killed on Sunday by a suicide bomber.

Born in Dumfries but raised in Carlisle, Private Murray was described by his platoon commander, Lieutenant David True, as a “thoroughly focused and effective soldier who was mature beyond his years”.

He was the tenth member of the UK military born in Scotland to die in Afghanistan since the US-led military campaign against al-Qaeda and the Taleban began in October 2001.

Private Murray’s family described him as a “little guy with a big heart”. They said: “David always dreamed of being a soldier like his uncle, papa and grandad. He made us proud, every day, in everything he did.”

The other soldiers were named as Privates Nathan Cuthbertson and Daniel Gamble. All three belonged to 2 Para. A fourth soldier was wounded but is expected to recover.

The troops had been on foot patrol in Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand province and were returning to their base when the attack occurred.

Private Cuthbertson, 19, was from Sunderland. Private Gamble, 22, from East Sussex, who was a Pashto linguist, had been speaking to an Afghani man when the patrol was attacked.

Lieutenant Colonel Joe O’Sullivan, the commanding officer of 2 Para, said: “They died doing their duty and doing their best, taking care with a potential threat, but also understanding the importance of connecting to the people around them.”

The tributes came as Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, said he was convinced that Britain’s presence in Afghanistan should continue. About 7,800 UK troops are part of a 37-nation NATO operation to support the country’s fledgling democracy.

Mr Brown said: “They have paid the ultimate price, but they have achieved something of lasting value – helping turn a lawless region sheltering terrorists into an emerging democracy.

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Des Browne, who has visited Afghanistan six times as Defence Secretary, admitted progress was slow but said Afghanistan was the “noble cause of the 21st century”.

Up to seven million children were now in school and road infrastructure was being developed, he said.