British soldier, Highlander Scott McLaren

A British soldier who went missing in southern Afghanistan, prompting an extensive search, was found dead from gunshot wounds on Monday 4th July 2011.

Scott McLaren, age 20, was a Rifleman from The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS). He deployed to Afghanistan on 5th April 2011 and was attached to 1 RIFLES battlegroup.

His unit was helping secure a bridgehead in Nahr-e-Saraj. In the morning of 4th July, he was reported missing.

Highlander McClaren leaves behind his parents James and Ann, sister Kirsty and brothers James and Ross.

Rifleman Martin Lamb (1 RIFLES)

British Army Rifleman Martin Jon Lamb from 1st Battalion The Rifles was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 5th June 2011. He was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on a patrol in the Haji Kareen area of the Nahr-e Saraj (South) district.

Rfn Lamb was born on the 26 April 1984 in Gloucester. He joined the Army in September 2003. He passed the All Arms Commando Course before taking up post in the newly formed regiment of The Rifles. He served with distinction in the prestigious Reconnaissance Platoon of 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES).

Rfn Lamb leaves behind a loving wife Melissa and two-year-old daughter Rosie.

British Army Captain Lisa Head

British Army Captain Lisa Jade Head from 321 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Squadron, 11 EOD Regiment RLC, died on 19 April 2011, in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, of wounds received in Afghanistan.

Captain Head deployed to Afghanistan on 27 March 2011 as an Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEED) (Neutralise) Operator with the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Task Force. She was based in Patrol Base 4 in the Nahr-e-Saraj District of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

On 18 April 2011, Captain Head deployed with her team to dispose of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) found by B Company, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA), in an alleyway frequently used by Afghans and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops alike. After rendering safe the initially identified IED, Captain Head was severely injured while dealing with a second IED.

Immediate first aid was provided and a helicopter Medical Emergency Response Team recovered the casualty to the military hospital in Camp Bastion. 

Surgeons stabilised Captain Head sufficiently for a Critical Care Air Support Team to conduct a medical evacuation from Camp Bastion to the Queen Elizabeth NHS Hospital in Birmingham, where she succumbed to her injuries.

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British soldier killed during bomb disposal mission

The British Ministry of Defence has announced the death of a soldier from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, on Tuesday 19th April 2011.

The soldier had been deployed on an operation to clear improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Nahr-e Saraj (South) District of Helmand Province on Monday 18th April and was injured when one of the devices detonated. 

Updated: It has been confirmed that Captain Lisa Head was the soldier involved

British Army Major Matthew Collins

Major Collins

Major Matthew Collins, aged 38, was killed on 23rd March 2011 by an improvised explosive device after returning from an operation supporting the Afghan National Army. The incident happened in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand.

 

Major Collins, aged 38 came from Backwell in Somerset. He commissioned into the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in August 1996, and travelled all over the world with the Battalion, serving operationally in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as on exercise in Belize, Kenya, Oman and the Falkland Islands.

He was serving with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

British soldier, Lance Sergeant Mark Terence Burgan

L-Sgt. Burgan

Lance Sergeant Mark Terence Burgan, aged 28, was killed on 23rd March 2011 by an improvised explosive device after returning from an operation supporting the Afghan National Army. The incident happened in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand.

Lance Sergeant Burgan came from Liverpool, and joined the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in 1999. He served on Operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He rose to the rank of Lance Sergeant, joined the Battalion Signals Platoon, becoming a Signals Detachment Commander.

He was serving with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Two British soldiers from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards were killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday 23rd March 2011.

The soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device after returning from an operation in support of an Afghan National Army Company, alongside C Company of the Danish Battle Group, to disrupt insurgent activity and search compounds of interest in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

Updated: Major Matthew Collins and Sgt. Mark Burgan

British Army Private Daniel Steven Prior

Pvt. Daniel Prior

Private Daniel Steven Prior, of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was wounded by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on 17th March 2011 and died of his wounds in the UK the following day.

Private Prior deployed to Afghanistan with D Company, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment on 13 October 2010 where he was based at Patrol Base 1 in the Nahr-e-Saraj District of Helmand Province. 

On 17th March 2011, he was tasked to provide fire support for his fellow paratroopers and the Afghan National Army during a reassurance patrol in a small village in Nahr-e-Saraj.

At 1242 hours Private Prior was wounded by an improvised explosive device and, despite medical care in Afghanistan and in the UK, he died of his wounds on 18th March 2011 in the Royal College of Defence Medicine Queen Elizabeth NHS Hospital, Birmingham. 

Private Prior had flown back from Afghanistan four weeks ago just in time to be present for the birth of his son, Logan and spent two weeks with his wife and baby before his return to active duty.

Kyle Marshall of 2 PARA killed in Afghanistan

L-Cpl. Kyle Marshall

Tributes have been paid to an "irreplaceable" soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Kyle Cleet Marshall, of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, died in the blast in the Nahr-e Saraj district on Monday 14th February 2011.

In a statement released today, L-Cpl Marshall's family said: "Kyle was a very lively, outgoing, loving and much-loved son.

"He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. He was due to be married in July to his fiancee, Hayley.

"We take comfort in the fact that he is now with his granddad who died some years ago."

His commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Harrison described him as "irreplaceable".

British Guardsman, Christopher Davies, killed in gun battle

Christopher Davies

Guardsman Christopher Davies, from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, serving with Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (North), was killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday 17 November 2010.

Guardsman Davies was killed while taking part in a security patrol in Nahr-e Saraj (North), Helmand province. As he was conducting a partnered operation with the Afghan National Army to the east of Patrol Base Hazrat, Guardsman Davies was hit by small arms fire.

Guardsman Davies, aged 22, was born and raised in St Helens, Merseyside. On completion of recruit training, he joined the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in Aldershot in January 2009.

British soldier, Peter Rayner, killed by IED

Sgt. Peter Rayner

Sergeant Peter Anthony Rayner, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed in Afghanistan on Friday 8 October 2010.

Sergeant Rayner was killed in action when he was struck by an improvised explosive device whilst leading his men on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

Continue to UK MOD for career overview

British soldier, Darren Deady, killed in action

Kingsman Darren Deady, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham on Friday 10 September 2010 as a result of injuries sustained in Afghanistan.

Kingsman Deady, serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South), died from injuries sustained as a result of a gunshot wound in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on the morning of Monday 23 August 2010.

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British officer, Andrew Griffiths, killed by IED

Captain Andrew Griffiths, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS), died on Sunday 5 September 2010 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Captain Andy Griffiths was wounded in action by an explosion whilst leading his soldiers on an operation in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Tuesday 24 August 2010.

His platoon had cleared and occupied a compound that was to be used as a future patrol base during a security operation, but as he moved through the compound to allow entry for an approaching patrol he was caught in an explosion which seriously injured him.

He was given exceptional first aid, which undoubtedly kept him alive, before being evacuated by his soldiers and returned to the UK for further treatment. On Sunday 5 September 2010, with his family present, he died of his wounds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

British Officer, John Sanderson dies from wounds

Lt. John Sanderson

The Ministry of Defence confirms that Lieutenant John Charles Sanderson of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) [1 MERCIAN], attached to 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles Battle Group, died on Wednesday 11 August 2010.

Lt Sanderson was wounded in an explosion whilst on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on 13 July 2010.

He was treated at the scene before being flown to the UK for further treatment.

On Wednesday 11 August 2010, surrounded by his family, he finally succumbed to his injuries.

Gurkha Arjun Pun killed in action

Corporal Arjun Purja Pun, 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, was killed along with two colleagues on 13 July 2010.

Corporal Arjun Purja Pun was 33 years old and was raised and recruited from Khibang village in the Magdi District in Nepal. 

He passed the notoriously gruelling Gurkha selection process and was enlisted into the British Army on 30 January 1995. 

His career was varied and successful and he was a hugely popular soldier wherever he served.

In 1998-99 he was a member of the Gurkha Reinforcement Company attached to B Company, 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. 

Most recently, he was posted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he supported the training of future Officers for the British Army and other national forces.

Corporal Arjun was in 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles based in Brunei at the time when they deployed on Op HERRICK 7 as the Reserve Battlegroup as part of Regional Command South based in Kandahar. 

He deployed on Op HERRICK 12 in early June 2010 as a battlefield casualty replacement. 

Read report of the three Gurkhas killed

British Gurkha Rifles lose three men

Major James Joshua Bowman, Lieutenant Neal Turkington and Corporal Arjun Purja Pun from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles were killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 13 July 2010.

L-R: Major James Bowman, Lt Neal Turkington, Cpl Arjun Pun

The three soldiers, serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South), were killed in a suspected premeditated attack by a member of the Afghan National Army.

Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, said:

"The despicable and treacherous act which has taken the lives of these three brave men will not dent the resolve of the colleagues they leave behind.
"The efforts of 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles have directly improved the security situation in the Nahr-e Saraj district; their bold acts have improved the lives of the Afghan people and their mission to partner and train the Afghan National Army is vital to our success.
"I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the servicemen killed in this atrocious attack, their sacrifice will not be forgotten."

Use following links to read about each man:

Major James Bowman

Lieutenant Neal Turkington

Corporal Arjun Purja Pun