Soldiers died in night patrol explosion, inquest told

Rifleman Luke Farmer, 19, from Upton, Pontefract, and Corporal Lee Brownson, 30, from Bishop Auckland, Co Durham - both of 3rd Battalion, The Rifles - were killed instantly in the catastrophic explosion in Sangin, Helmand Province, on January 15 this year.

Cpl Brownson had volunteered to lead the two-hour section night patrol, including Rifleman Farmer, to dominate the area and stop the Taliban from planting IEDs and intimidating the local population, the hearing in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, was told.

Platoon commander at the time, Lieutenant (now captain) Palmer Winstanley, was back at base when he heard from Cpl Brownson over the radio that the section had come under small arms fire north of the village of Chardah.

He said the Taliban had integrated small arms fire and IEDs to try and push British soldiers into one or the other during engagements to cause casualties. The patrol returned fire and then decided to fall back the 400 metres to the base with Rifleman Farmer in the front with a metal detector and Cpl Brownson second.

At the same time, the officer went out with another section to give fire support and it moved towards their comrades when the "huge" explosion occurred, hitting the two men with the full blast.

"I was trying to raise Lee on the radio but to no avail," Capt Winstanley said.

The officer paid tribute to the men: "Lee was exceptional, one of the best corporals I have ever come across. He was really inspiring and all the guys could rely on him. Luke was a really good young operator. He was very mature and reliable and hardworking."

Wiltshire and Swindon coroner David Ridley recorded verdicts of unlawful killing for both men while on active service.