Post by cammy on Jul 27, 2009 19:24:48 GMT 1
Two further British soldiers have been killed in separate explosions in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence confirmed today.
A soldier from the Light Dragoons died while on a vehicle patrol, as part of Operation Panther's Claw, in Lashkar Gah district, central Helmand Province this morning.
In a separate incident, a soldier from 5th Regiment Royal Artillery was killed while on a foot patrol in Sangin district, Helmand Province, bringing the total number of British serviceman killed this month in Afghanistan to 22.
A soldier who was killed on Saturday when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb, was named yesterday as Bombardier Craig Hopson of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery.
Hopson, 24, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, was the 189th British soldier to have died in the country since the start of operations in 2001.
His family paid tribute to a man who was "loved so much". Their tribute read: "Craig was the light in so very many lives. The light has now gone out. His family and many, many friends will love him and miss him forever. Craig the legend. Our Craig has left a hole in our lives that no one else can ever fill. He was loved so much."
Hopson, known as "Hoppo", joined 40th Regiment Royal Artillery in August 2002. After completing tours in Iraq and Cyprus, he was deployed to Kandahar in March as second in command of a fire support team. His partner, Eleanor, had recently given birth to a baby girl, Amelia.
Praising Hopson, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright, commanding officer of the Black Watch, 3 Scots Battle Group, said he died at the very front line of Panther's Claw, as the most forward artillery observer in the brigade.
"He has given his life for his friends, for the battle group and his regiment, and for the people of Afghanistan so that they may have a better life," he said. "Hoppo" was so proud of his newborn daughter and we cannot begin to imagine the hole that has been left in Eleanor's and Amelia's lives.
"Amelia will never know her father. Our lives have been made richer by him in every way and I hope they can take some comfort from our thoughts and prayers at this most tragic time."
A soldier from the Light Dragoons died while on a vehicle patrol, as part of Operation Panther's Claw, in Lashkar Gah district, central Helmand Province this morning.
In a separate incident, a soldier from 5th Regiment Royal Artillery was killed while on a foot patrol in Sangin district, Helmand Province, bringing the total number of British serviceman killed this month in Afghanistan to 22.
A soldier who was killed on Saturday when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb, was named yesterday as Bombardier Craig Hopson of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery.
Hopson, 24, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, was the 189th British soldier to have died in the country since the start of operations in 2001.
His family paid tribute to a man who was "loved so much". Their tribute read: "Craig was the light in so very many lives. The light has now gone out. His family and many, many friends will love him and miss him forever. Craig the legend. Our Craig has left a hole in our lives that no one else can ever fill. He was loved so much."
Hopson, known as "Hoppo", joined 40th Regiment Royal Artillery in August 2002. After completing tours in Iraq and Cyprus, he was deployed to Kandahar in March as second in command of a fire support team. His partner, Eleanor, had recently given birth to a baby girl, Amelia.
Praising Hopson, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright, commanding officer of the Black Watch, 3 Scots Battle Group, said he died at the very front line of Panther's Claw, as the most forward artillery observer in the brigade.
"He has given his life for his friends, for the battle group and his regiment, and for the people of Afghanistan so that they may have a better life," he said. "Hoppo" was so proud of his newborn daughter and we cannot begin to imagine the hole that has been left in Eleanor's and Amelia's lives.
"Amelia will never know her father. Our lives have been made richer by him in every way and I hope they can take some comfort from our thoughts and prayers at this most tragic time."