British soldiers 'Men of courage'

Tributes to five 'men of courage'

The soldiers had been living in a compound at a police checkpoint

Tributes have been paid to five British soldiers killed in an attack by a "rogue" Afghan policeman on Tuesday.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said they had been "men of courage" whose memories would live on.

They were Guardsman Jimmy Major, Warrant Officer Darren Chant, Sgt Matthew Telford, Cpl Steven Boote and Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith.

Meanwhile a soldier from 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, has been killed in an explosion in Helmand, the MoD has said.

'Incomparable courage'

Mr Ainsworth said of the five men killed earlier in the week: "My deepest sympathies and condolences lie with their grieving families, friends, and all those who served alongside them who will feel the pain of loss most intensely. They are in all our thoughts."

WO1 Darren 'Daz' Chant was due to become a father for the fourth time.

The most senior British general in Afghanistan, Lt Gen Jim Dutton, has warned that this kind of atrocity will not be the last.

Gen Dutton told BBC1's Politics Show, to be broadcast on Sunday: "It's not the first time that an Afghan policeman or an Afghan soldier or indeed soldiers of other nations in other theatres have carried out this sort of atrocity.

"And regrettably I think we have to say it probably won't be the last. But it is a very rare event."

WO1 Chant's "devastated" pregnant wife, Nausheen, said: "Our unborn son will never meet his father, but he will know him through his legacy.

'Gentle giant'

"For whether in uniform or out, his incomparable courage and selflessness humbled all those who knew and loved him."...

There is more at the BBC here.

For more, go to Helmand Blog here

The courage of these men WILL live on. Always remembered and honoured.