Commander praises blast victim

A serviceman who died in an explosion in Afghanistan yesterday "embodied the finest traditions of a soldier", his commanding officer said last night.

By The Newsroom

Published 21st Oct 2010, 01:08 BST

Updated 21st Oct 2010, 01:14 BST

Acting Cpl David Barnsdale, 24, right, from 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance), was killed while clearing explosive devices in Helmand Province in the south of the country.

The soldier, from Tring, Hertfordshire, had been deployed on his second tour of Afghanistan last month.

Lt Col Mark Davis, commanding officer of Counter-IED, said: “Acting Corporal David Barnsdale, Dave to his friends, was a young, bright and incredibly likeable team leader.

“He died leading his men in what must be one of the most dangerous tasks in the Forces – deliberately searching for IEDs.”

Afghanistan Hertfordshire