Bombardier Craig Hopson
40th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Lowland Gunners)

Bombardier Hopson was born on 11 March 1985 in Castleford, West Yorkshire and attended Castleford High Technology College before deciding that he wanted a career in the Army.

He joined 40th Regiment Royal Artillery (the Lowland Gunners) on 28 August 2002 after completion of his Basic Training at Pirbright and Phase 2 Training at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton
5th Regiment Royal Artillery

WO2 Upton was killed as a result of an explosion whilst conducting a foot patrol in Sangin district, Helmand province. He was serving as second-in-command of Sangin's Police Mentoring Team.

WO2 Upton was born on 29th November 1973 in Nottinghamshire. He enlisted into the Army in June 1990. A career Royal Artillery weapon locator specialising in RADAR systems, he served operationally in Iraq, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Bosnia, and previously in Afghanistan. He was a natural leader and intensely professional soldier who rose sharply through the ranks, quickly gaining trust from, and the confidence of, colleagues wherever he served.

Trooper Phillip Lawrence
The Light Dragoons

Trooper Lawrence died in an explosion whilst travelling in a SCIMITAR, or CVR(T), vehicle, as part of a patrol in Lashkar Gah district, Helmand province, while helping ensure the security of an area earlier cleared as part of Operation PANCHAI PALANG (Panther's Claw). He had volunteered to step in to drive for another Troop to fill a temporary manning gap when his vehicle was hit by an explosion, mortally wounding him.

Craftsman Anthony Lombardi
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Craftsman (Cfn) Lombardi was killed in Babaji, in the Lashkar Gar district of Helmand province. He was attached as a vehicle mechanic to Emsdorf Troop, a CVR(T) [Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)] group from The Light Dragoons serving with A Company, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters & Foresters) (2 MERCIAN).

Cfn Lombardi was driving a CVR(T) Spartan as part of an escort for a Viking supply convoy, moving between the company's two locations when the vehicle was hit by an explosion. The force of the explosion breached the hull, killing him instantly.

Three members of the Parachute Regiment believed to have been on special operations have been killed in Afghanistan. As a consequence their eulogies are somewhat truncated.

Corporal Kevin Mulligan, age 26

The Commanding Officer, Special Forces, said;

Corporal Kevin Mulligan was the epitome of a professional soldier; diligent, selfless, caring, with a profound sense of duty. A charismatic man with an irrepressible sense of humour, he was overwhelmingly popular and universally respected. An exceptional leader, he died how he led his life, at the forefront of his men.

Private Jason Williams
2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment

Private Williams was killed following an explosion while on patrol just east of Gereshk in Helmand province on Saturday afternoon.

On the day of his death, Private Williams' platoon was securing the site of an attack which had occurred earlier that day during which three Afghan National Army Warriors were killed.

Rifleman Daniel Wild
2ND BATTALION THE RIFLES

Killed in Action, near Forward Operating Base JACKSON, Sangin

Thursday 13th August 2009

Rifleman Daniel Wild was born on 18th July 1990 in Hartlepool. He joined the Army in 2007 conducting his phase one training at ATR Bassingbourne and completing his Phase 2 training at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick. He joined 2nd Battalion The Rifles in May 2008. Too young to deploy to Kosovo last summer, he seized the opportunity to deploy on exercise to Canada with 5 RIFLES instead. He excelled there despite his apparent lack of experience, receiving outstanding reports from

Lance Bombadier Matthew Hatton
40th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Lowland Gunners)

KILLED IN ACTION, NEAR FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, SANGIN

Thursday 13th August 2009

Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton was killed in action on Thursday the 13th of August 2009, when he was caught in an IED blast whilst on foot patrol as part of Op GHARTSE KERS 4, providing security for a pre-election shura in the Sangin area of Helmand province. He had suffered injury in an initial blast which had sadly killed Rifleman Wild and, whilst trying to clear an extraction route to the Helicopter Landing Site, was caught in a second blast in which he was fatally wounded.

Captain Mark Hale
The 2nd Battalion The Rifles

Killed in action 13th August 2009

Captain Mark Hale was born on 9th April 1967 in Bournemouth. He joined the Army in 1983, aged 16, as a Junior Leader and embarked on an exceptional career with the Devonshire & Dorset Regiment that took him on operations to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and then, with 2nd Battalion The Rifles, to Afghanistan. One of the outstanding soldiers of his generation, he found his calling in the Reconnaissance Platoon, where he spent much of his career. He promoted to Company Serjeant

Private Richard Hunt
2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Private Richard Hunt from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh died at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Selly Oak on Saturday 15 August 2009 from wounds sustained in Helmand province two days previously.

Private Hunt was wounded as result of an explosion while on a vehicle patrol near Musa Qaleh in Helmand province on the morning of 13 August 2009.

Sergeant Simon Valentine
2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Sergeant Simon Valentine of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was killed in Afghanistan on Saturday 15 August 2009.

Sergeant Simon Valentine

Sergeant Valentine died as a result of injuries sustained in an explosion that happened while on a foot patrol near Sangin, northen Helmand province.

4th Battalion The Rifles

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of Rifleman Peter Aldridge of 4th Battalion The Rifles, in Afghanistan on Friday 22 January 2010.
Rifleman Aldridge, 4th Battalion The Rifles

Rifleman Aldridge, a soldier from A Company 4 RIFLES, serving as part of 3 RIFLES Battle Group, was killed by an explosion near Sangin in Helmand Province. He was on a foot patrol, part of a larger operation to provide security for the local population in Sangin, when the explosion happened.

Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Jones, Commanding Officer 4 RIFLES, said
"Rifleman Peter Aldridge was just 19 – still very much a young man, but having gone to the Army's Foundation College in 2006, he had a great deal of experience despite his young age. Indeed he was one of the longer serving Riflemen in his platoon having joined their band almost 2 years ago.

Lance Corporal James Fullarton
2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2 RRF)

Killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 16 August 2009.

Lance Corporal James Fullarton, or 'Fully' to his mates, was born in Coventry in April 1985. He joined the Army in November 2003 and on successful completion of his infantry training at ITC Catterick, was posted to the Second Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Fusilier Simon Annis
2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2 RRF)

Killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 16 August 2009.

Born in Salford in 1987 Fusilier Simon Annis attended Culcheth High School, Warrington, until he had completed his GCSEs. After leaving school his desire to test himself saw him pursue a challenging and varied career when he joined his local Infantry Regiment, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers aged just 19.

Fusilier Louis Carter
2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2 RRF)

Killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 16 August 2009.

Fusilier Louis Carter was born in Nuneaton in 1990. He joined the Army in January 2007, and on successful completion of AFC Harrogate and his infantry training at ITC Catterick, was posted to the Second Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in April 2009. He was always eager and proud to be a Fusilier and Infantryman.

3rd Battalion The Rifles (3 RIFLES)

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Lance Corporal Daniel Cooper from 3rd Battalion The Rifles (3 RIFLES). Lance Corporal Cooper died from wounds received as a result of an explosion near Sangin, in Helmand province, during the morning of 24 January 2010.

Lance Corporal Cooper was born in Hereford on 10 March 1988. He went to Whitecross High School before enlisting and going to the Army Training Regiment in Bassingbourn in 2005 for his Phase One training. He received Phase Two training at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick and joined 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry in Edinburgh in 2006.

Lance Corporal Cooper deployed with A Company, 3 RIFLES, to Afghanistan in October 2009 and was operating in southern Sangin. Following the injury to his section second-in-command he was promoted to Lance Corporal in the field on 21 December 2009 and stepped up to fill this role.

Private Johnathon Young,
The 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's)

Private Young was killed after two explosions while on foot patrol. The patrol was taking place in Sangin District, Helmand Province on the morning of Thursday 20 August 2009.

Private Johnathon Andrew Young was born in Hull on 19th September 1990. He joined the Army on 24th February 2008 and completed his training at Catterick, North Yorkshire, in September 2008 before joining the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's) based in Warminster, Wiltshire. Private Young made an immediate impression for his easy going nature, good humour and faultless manners. In the short time he was in Burma Company he was recognised by all as a popular,capable soldier with great potential.

Serjeant Paul McAleese
2nd Battalion the Rifles

Serjeant McAleese was killed after two explosions while on foot patrol. The patrol was taking place in Sangin District, Helmand Province on the morning of Thursday 20 August 2009.

Serjeant Paul McAleese was born in Hereford on 18th October 1979. He began his Army training in March 1997 and joined the 1st Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets in August. A natural soldier, he rose through the ranks quickly and found his calling in the Sniper Platoon. As a Rifleman he completed the demanding Close Observation Platoon course before going on to complete the Infantry's gruelling Section Commanders'and Platoon Sergeants' Battle Courses with distinction. A keen boxer and rugby player, Serjeant McAleese was fit and unbelievably tough.

Fusilier Shaun Bush
2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Fusilier Shaun Bush from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak, on Tuesday 25 August 2009.

Fusilier Bush died of wounds he had sustained in Afghanistan. He had been taking part in a foot patrol in Sangin district, Helmand province, on Saturday 15 August when an explosive device detonated, killing his colleague Sergeant Simon Valentine.

Sergeant Stuart 'Gus' Millar

The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of Sergeant Stuart Millar of The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

He was killed as a result of an explosion believed to have been caused by a rocket-propelled grenade when he was attacked by insurgents whilst patrolling on foot in Babaji District, Helmand Province on the morning of Monday 31 August 2009.