Video: Yorkshire Regiment soldiers feared dead in Afghanistan attack

SIX soldiers are missing believed killed in the single worst enemy attack on British troops in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001.

The servicemen - five from the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and one from the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment - were on patrol yesterday when their Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle was caught in an explosion.

Their deaths would take the total number of British forces personnel or Ministry of Defence civilians who have died while serving in the region to more than 400 since the US-led invasion in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Prime Minister David Cameron said the news was a “desperately sad day for our country”.

Speaking in Downing Street, he added: “It is a reminder of the huge price that we are paying for the work we are doing in Afghanistan and the sacrifice that our troops have made and continue to make.

“I do believe it’s important work for our national security right here at home but of course this work will increasingly be carried out by Afghan soldiers and we all want to see that transition take place.

“But today we should think of the families.”

The servicemen were struck around 40km north of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand province. Next of kin have been informed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The incident represents the biggest single loss of British military personnel in the country since an RAF Nimrod crash which killed 14 people in 2006.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said he utterly condemned those responsible for the “tragic” event which brought home “the dangers that are faced on a daily basis” by those deployed in Afghanistan.

“My thoughts are with the families and friends of the six soldiers who are missing, believed killed and also with their colleagues, both in Afghanistan and the UK, whose brave work continues or is about to start,” he added.

Chief of Defence Staff General Sir David Richards said he was “deeply saddened” by the news.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“My thoughts and prayers at this difficult time are with the families of those affected,” he added.

The Nimrod explosion, on September 2 2006, came moments after mid-air refuelling when a fire broke out on the plane.

The aircraft blew apart as the crew tried to make an emergency descent to Kandahar airbase.

The crash prompted a scathing review which accused the MoD of sacrificing safety to cut costs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

An inquest in 2008 saw Coroner Andrew Walker conclude that the aircraft was not airworthy.

Five members of 2nd Battalion The Rifles were killed in two separate explosions in Helmand on July 10 2009.

The same year, another five servicemen - three from the Grenadier Guards and two from the Royal Military Police - died at the hands of a rogue Afghan policeman in the Nad-e’Ali district of Helmand Province on November 3.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: “It is tragic news that six of our soldiers are missing, presumed dead, in Afghanistan. Our hearts go out to their families, friends and colleagues.

“This is a dark day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We salute all of our fallen and those who continue to serve in the face of the gravest danger. They are serving with bravery and courage and we owe them all a huge debt of gratitude.”

Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: “This tragic incident serves only to remind us of the grave risks which we ask our young men and women in the armed forces to take every day on our behalf in some of the most dangerous places in the world.

“It isn’t just the number of casualties which is so disturbing, it is the fact that the United Kingdom, along with other allies, has declared a date by which all combat forces will be withdrawn, and yet the efforts of the Taliban to destabilise Afghanistan and stand in the way of effective government continue unabated.”

A total of 404 British service personnel have died, or are missing believed to be dead, since the start of operations more than a decade ago.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Former soldier Kris Hopkins, Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley in West Yorkshire, said: “I am absolutely devastated by this news.

“As a former member of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, I was invited to have lunch with officers of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment only two weeks ago in advance of their departure to Helmand.

“The loss of five men, together with a colleague from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, is a devastating blow to everyone out there.

“My sympathies go out to them all and, most importantly, the families of those brave soldiers who have lost their lives serving our country.

“Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Archbishop of York said prayers had been offered this morning for soldiers serving with the Wiltshire-based Yorkshire Regiment.

Expressing sadness following this morning’s announcement, he added: “I understand five of those believed killed are from the Yorkshire Regiment.

“We hold daily prayers for this regiment in our chapel at Bishopthorpe - indeed earlier this morning we were praying for all those serving in the regiment.

“My heart goes out to those affected - we will continue to pray for you. We owe a debt of gratitude to our brave soldiers who are the best in the world.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

South West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison, whose constituency covers Warminster, said: “I am devastated by this news and know that the thoughts and prayers of Warminster people will be with the families at this difficult time.”

The Conservative MP, who served as a surgeon in Royal Navy before entering Parliament, was speaking from St Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons Belgium.

At Battlesbury Barracks in Warminster, Wiltshire - the home of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment - the dark green battalion flag emblazoned with a gold lion and white rose flew at half-mast.

A media pack gathered next to signs reading “Welcome to Battlesbury Barracks - Home of the Dukes”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Two uniformed soldiers re-lit a candle which had gone out next to the barracks’ gates.

The candle was first lit when around 90 soldiers from the Corunna Company, of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, were deployed to Afghanistan less than a month ago.

The candle - which will remain lit until the last member of the battalion returns home - was the idea of the wives and partners of the soldiers, to act as a vigil for their loved ones.

Under the candle a text reads: “This flame serves to remind us of the commitment that the soldiers of this battalion are currently making on operations.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It will be extinguished when the last soldier of the battalion returns safely to this base.”

A woman and a young boy quietly laid a bunch of pale yellow roses under the sign marking the entrance to Battlesbury Barracks.

Before turning to leave, the brunette woman, wearing a dark jacket and jeans, gently placed her hand on the sign and lowered her head.

A card tucked inside the floral tribute said: “Dear 3 Yorks, Tragic news. Warminster is proud and will always consider you ‘our boys’. J x”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Mayor and councillors of Warminster Town Council said they were “extremely saddened” to hear today’s news.

A local church in the old market and garrison town is due to hold a service tonight for “quiet contemplation”.

In a statement, the council said: “Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all the families affected, particularly those of the five soldiers from the Warminster based 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment.

“St Lawrence Chapel is currently flying the Union flag at half- mast as a mark of respect, and will open five books of remembrance for the individual soldiers once details have been confirmed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The Minster Church will be open at 5pm this evening for prayers and quiet contemplation and the opportunity to light candles.

“The whole community of Warminster will be here to support the families, who are often some distance from their close relatives, to see them through these difficult times.”

The council added that a pre-deployment parade scheduled for March 16, which has been organised by The Yorkshire Regiment, will continue as planned unless it was told otherwise.

The event, involving 250 soldiers, is being held to mark the soldiers’ deployment to Afghanistan in April.

The troops will be joining their colleagues in Afghanistan, some of whom left Warminster on February 14 in an emotional Valentine’s Day farewell.