Helmand a new Hell for British Troops

British soldier killed in Afghanistan explosion

Serviceman from 2nd Battalion the Rifles dies in blast in central Helmand province, MoD says


* Adam Gabbatt and agencies
* guardian.co.uk, Sunday 8 November 2009 09.52 GMT
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British troops on duty in Helmand, Afghanistan

British troops in Helmand, Afghanistan. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA

The Queen led the nation in remembering its war dead today at the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in London.

This year's Remembrance Sunday commemorations, which are taking place across the country, have seen an emphasis on Afghanistan, where hundreds of soldiers gathered this morning to pay their respects to fallen comrades.

And the conflict was brought sharply into focus by the announcement today that a British soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan yesterday. A total of 231 British troops have now died in the country since the war began, 94 so far this year alone.

The soldier was killed in an explosion near Sangin, in central Helmand province, the MoD said.

The man, who has not yet been named, was from 2nd Battalion the Rifles, but was serving with 4th Battalion the Rifles when he died. His next of kin have been informed.

Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said he would "not be forgotten".

"It is my sad duty to inform you that a soldier from the Rifles was killed ... in an explosion near Sangin, in Helmand province," he said.

"He died a soldier, doing his duty and among his fellow soldiers. He will not be forgotten."

Services are taking place in Britain and Afghanistan to mark Remembrance Sunday.

After a two minute silence in Whitehall at 11am the Queen led politicians and military and religious leaders in laying a wreath at the base of the Cenotaph. Prince Harry laid a wreath on behalf of the Prince of Wales, who is on official duties in Canada, before the prime minister, Gordon Brown, the Conservative leader, David Cameron, and the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, all laid their wreaths.

Earlier today, hundreds of soldiers gathered at the main British base in Afghanistan to pay their respects to fallen comrades.

Wreaths were laid and a minutes silence held after a week in which seven UK soldiers have died in Afghanistan, five of them killed in a gun attack by a rogue Afghan policeman.

"Remembrance Day is about remembering the dead of the Great War, the second world war, and all those who have died since," Brigadier James Cowan, the commander of Task Force Helmand, said.

"Here we are in Afghanistan remembering those of our comrades who have died in this conflict.

"We've been at war now for nearly eight years, both in Iraq and Afghanistan and it's a particularly poignant week at the end of which seven of our friends are dead."