Cost of bloodiest day: three of eight UK Afghan victims were teenagers

THREE teenagers – one the father of an eight-month-old baby – were named yesterday among the eight British soldiers killed in 24 hours in the bloodiest day for UK ground casualties in Afghanistan.

Three of the soldiers were 18, among them Will Aldridge from Herefordshire, one of the youngest on active duty in Helmand province. He had only been allowed on active service after his 18th birthday in May.

Another Rifleman, Joe Murphy, 18, from Birmingham, died when he tried to rescue a colleague, Daniel Simpson, 20, of Croydon, who had been injured by another bomb. Both men were killed instantly when a second device exploded.

Corporal Jonathan Horne, 28, from Walsall, and Rifleman James Backhouse, 18, from Yorkshire – who leaves three brothers – were also killed in the same set of explosions while on foot patrol near the Army's Forward Operating Base Wishtan, in Sangin. All five were members of 2nd Battalion The Rifles.

A sixth man to lose his life on Friday was named as Corporal Lee Scott, 26, of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment. He was killed during an explosion while taking part in Operation Panther's Claw, just north of Nad Ali, Helmand Province, on Friday.

The two soldiers killed on Thursday were Rifleman Daniel Hume, 22, of The Rifles, and Private John Brackpool, 27, of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

The eight deaths represented the bloodiest day on the ground for UK forces in Afghanistan.

Rifleman Aldridge joined 2 Rifles in Northern Ireland last December aged 17. He was said to be fiercely proud of being one of the youngest British soldiers in Helmand, and was described by his commanding officer as a "natural field soldier".

He left a mother and two young brothers, who said in a statement: "He achieved his dreams by becoming a Rifleman and was very aware of the sacrifice he may have to make. He will leave a huge void in our lives and always remain the perfect son."

The parents of Rifleman Murphy, Brian and Jill, said: "Joe died doing the job he loved whilst serving his country. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his comrades in Afghanistan."

Rifleman Simpson leaves an eight-month-old son, Alfie.

The names of the dead were released as it was announced that two US marines were killed yesterday.

In an interview with the British Forces Broadcasting Service, Prime Minister Gordon Brown acknowledged that it was proving to be a "difficult summer" for the troops in Afghanistan. "These sacrifices that have hurt so many families in our country are ones that the whole of Britain will want to acknowledge," he said.

He said he had been assured by commanders that the Operation Panther's Claw offensive to drive the Taleban from central Helmand province was making "considerable progress".

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said the eight British deaths would have a considerable effect on troops in Helmand. He praised the commitment of the armed forces, say-ing: "Their successes will mean our streets at home are safe from the threat from terrorism."

UK ROLE 'CRITICAL' SAYS OBAMA

PRESIDENT Barack Obama has praised the efforts of British armed forces fighting in Afghanistan, saying they were protecting the UK from a terrorism risk that was at times higher than that faced by the USA.

Mr Obama said his heart went out to families of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan as he and the Prime Minister warned of more tough fighting to come this summer.

"Great Britain has played an extraordinary role in this coalition, understanding that we can not allow either Afghanistan or Pakistan to be a safe haven for al-Qaeda, those who with impunity blow up train stations in London or buildings in New York," Mr Obama said.

"The likelihood of a terrorist attack in London is just as high, if not higher, than it is in the US, that's the reason why Tony Blair and now Gordon Brown have made this commitment. It is not because they wish to put their young men and women in harm's way.

"The contribution of the British is critical."