We’re proud of our hero soldiers, say families

The families of two British servicemen killed on duty in Afghanistan have paid tribute to them.

Father-of-four Lance Corporal Matthew David Smith, 26, from the Corps of Royal Engineers, died on Friday after being shot while trying to build a checkpoint in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province. His mother Caroline Smith described him as a “hero”.

The father of Lieutenant Andrew Robert Chesterman, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, who was shot by enemy forces last Thursday while on patrol in the same district, said his family had lost “a fine young man”.

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Paul Chesterman added the serviceman’s relatives were “immensely proud” of him.

The 26-year-old, from Bristol, was commanding a vehicle patrol when the lead vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb. The Ministry of Defence said that as Lt Chesterman moved forward to take control of the situation, insurgents opened fire and he was shot.

The rifleman, who was a platoon commander with C Company, leaves behind his father and sisters Anna and Olivia.

L/Cpl Smith was part of a troop tasked to build a new checkpoint next the Nahr-e-Bughra Canal when he was hit by small arms fire.

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The soldier, who had four children aged between one and seven, and a fiancee, Laura, was said to be devoted to his family and “talked about them endlessly”.

The keen footballer, who grew up in Aldershot, was described by his comrades as a “big character”.

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