Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan named
The two soldiers are the 101st and 102nd deaths since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001
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Saturday, 14, Jun 2008 12:11
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has released the names of two British soldiers killed fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the ministry said Lance Corporal James Bateman and Private Jeff Doherty from the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment had died during fighting in the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand province.
The battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Joe O'Sullivan, paid tribute to the soldiers saying that the troops had carried out their duties courageously.
He said: "This morning, 8 Platoon of C (Bruneval) company was engaged by the Taliban north of their base at FOB Gibraltar. During the exchange of fire LCpl James Bateman and Pte Jeff Doherty were killed.
"They died doing what they had been asked to do, operating in difficult country against a dangerous enemy to make it harder for the enemy to influence the people and give those people the chance of a better life.
"They had patrolled the area around FOB Gibraltar with great skill for two months and had taken the fight to the Taliban in the Musa Qal'eh Wadi," the group's senior officer added.
Defence secretary Des Brown sent his condolences to the families of the two soldiers and thanked the men for their efforts.
Mr Browne said: "It has been an intense and terrible week for those serving in Afghanistan, no more so than for those in 2 Para.
"The deaths of Lance Corporal Bateman and Private Doherty will come as a further blow to them all, however they died as they live; excellent soldiers carrying out their duties with professionalism and courage.
"My thoughts are very much with their family and friends as they come to terms with their loss," he added.
The deaths of the two soldiers are the 101st and 102nd British fatalities in the country since the US-led invasion of 2001.