Afghanistan: Bodies of British soldiers killed in bomb attack flown home

SOLDIERS from the battalion that lost five men in the deadliest attack on UK forces in Afghanistan have been praised for their dedication in carrying on the fight against insurgents.

As the bodies of the six men killed in the bomb attack on a Warrior armoured vehicle were flown back to the UK today, men from 3 Yorks who had fought alongside them did not hesitate in carrying on frontline duties.

Members of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment were part of a 1,000-strong British force which supported an Afghan-led operation to clear the Taleban heartland around Gereshk over the weekend.

Many were close friends of the men who lost their lives and all were determined to remember their fallen colleagues.

They played a key role in supporting patrols by the Afghan National Civil Order Police as they prevented suspected insurgents fleeing the area.

Days earlier, soldiers from the battalion helped take out a Taleban stronghold and seize weapons and bomb-making equipment in a nearby area.

Both operations took place within 20 miles of the site where an improvised explosive device (IED) killed their fellow soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel Dan Bradbury, the commanding officer of 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, said: “Despite the losses the regiment has suffered, it comes as no surprise to me that 3 Yorks continue to conduct themselves with professionalism on operations.

“It is a real testament to the character of our soldiers that they are determined to carry on the mission and take the fight to insurgents.”