Toll rises in Afghanistan as war dead remembered
Monday November 09 2009
THE British death toll in Afghanistan rose further yesterday as the nation paid respects to its war dead yesterday.
The UK's Ministry of Defence disclosed that two more British soldiers were killed in explosions over the weekend -- including one this morning.
Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is my sad duty to inform you that earlier today, the morning of Remembrance Sunday, a soldier from 3 Rifles Battle Group was killed as a result of an explosion near Sangin, in Helmand Province.
"One of our fellow soldiers, one of us, who we remembered this morning and who will not be forgotten."
The losses took the total number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action past the 200 mark to 201, and the overall death toll since the start of operations in 2001 to 232.
The sombre news came as Queen Elizabeth led Britain's remembrance for those who have died for their country.
The queen, warmly clad in a black coat against the autumn chill, placed the first wreath in the annual event at the Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall, London.
Skies were threatening but the rain held off as the queen was followed in placing wreaths by Prince Philip, Prince Harry, on behalf of his father Prince Charles who is on an official visit to Canada, and Prince William.
It is the first time Harry, who has served in Afghanistan, has placed a wreath on Remembrance Sunday. The message on William's wreath said: "In memory of Lex, Jo and others who have made the ultimate sacrifice." Lex is Major Alexis Roberts and Jo is 2nd Lt Joanna Dyer, both of whom were friends of his killed in combat.
Touching
Approximately 7,500 British ex-servicemen and women and 1,600 civilians then took part in a march past the Cenotaph.
The crowd, 10 deep on the pavement observed, the two minutes' silence in perfect quiet at 11am before the wreath-laying event.
Stuart Gendall, director of corporate communications for The Royal British Legion, said after the event: "It's gone very, very well. It's been a very touching ceremony, it's made all the more poignant that foremost in people's minds are the tragic deaths in Afghanistan.
- Tim Moynihan in London
Irish Independent
