The death of a British soldier in Afghanistan yesterday, New Year's Eve, made 2009 the third-bloodiest year for British forces since 1945.
The bomb disposal expert,from 33 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, was killed in an explosion near Sangin in Helmand Province.
That means the total number of British military deaths in Afghanistan last year was 108, making only 1982 (255) and 1972 (109) bloodier.
245 British soldiers have been killed in total so far in Afghanistan since the war started in 2001, meaning that total fatalities will soon overtake that in the 1982 Falklands War.
British bomb disposal expert dies in Afghan explosion on New Year's Eve, ending grisly year for UK forces
By Mail Foreign Service
01st January 2010
Daily Mail
An Army bomb disposal expert was killed by an explosion in Afghanistan on New Year's Eve, the Ministry of Defence announced today.
The soldier, from 33 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, was fatally injured by a blast near Sangin in Helmand Province and died yesterday afternoon.
It is understood he was on patrol conducting controlled explosions in order to save the lives of his comrades when he was mortally wounded.
Grisly year: The bomb disposal expert's death near Sangin yesterday takes the toll for 2009 to 108, making it the bloodiest year since the Falklands
His family have been told of the tragedy. The soldier was from the same regiment as Corporal Loren Marlton-Thomas, 28, was was killed by a roadside bomb as he was clearing a route in Helmand back in November.
Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, from Task Force Helmand, said: 'He was part of the counter-IED task force, leading the fight against the improvised explosive device (IED) in Helmand. His sacrifice and his courage will not be forgotten.'
The latest fatality is the 108th for UK service personnel in the country in 2009 and brings to an end the Army's bloodiest year for deaths since the Falklands in 1982.
His death takes the overall toll for the war so far to 245. Around three-quarters of all British deaths in Afghanistan in 2009 are believed to be due to IEDs.
Gordon Brown admitted today that it had been a 'particularly tough' year for British forces and warned there may be more 'difficult months ahead'.
In his New Year's message, he cited the Christmas Day airline bomb plot as proof that the war is justified by the need to combat the terrorist threat to Britain from abroad.
This 'requires us to take on Al Qaeda and the Taliban at the epicentre of global terrorism', he said.
'While progress is difficult, I am working every day and will continue to step up our efforts with no let-up to disrupt the ability of terrorists to mount attacks on Britain, and to work with other countries to prevent terrorism on our streets.
'This will have my relentless focus in 2010, just as Afghanistan will have. We will steadily be giving more control of Afghanistan to Afghan troops and police,' he said.
Helmand, where many British troops are based, is particularly dangerous because it is a Taliban stronghold and a major centre of opium production.
One defence expert says the growing complexity of the bombs indicates they are receiving support either from state sponsors or experienced Islamist insurgents.
Dr Tim Bird, from King's College London, said last month: 'Initially, when we moved into Helmand in 2006, the Taliban were keen and eager to have pitched battles.
'They learned quickly that's not the best way to tackle a modern military and switched to IEDs, which hugely raised the death toll.'
The Government has been attacked by relatives of the fallen for failing to provide them with adequate equipment and vehicles to protect them from the explosives.
Last month, the Prime Minister pledged £150million over the next three years to tackle IEDs as he warned of more 'hard fighting' ahead.
Mr Brown said an extra £10million in urgent funding was being allocated for handheld mine detectors to be used alongside disposal robots.
He also announced plans for 'new and enhanced facilities' for training and improving intelligence to locate the deadly devices.
dailymail.co.uk
The bomb disposal expert,from 33 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, was killed in an explosion near Sangin in Helmand Province.
That means the total number of British military deaths in Afghanistan last year was 108, making only 1982 (255) and 1972 (109) bloodier.
245 British soldiers have been killed in total so far in Afghanistan since the war started in 2001, meaning that total fatalities will soon overtake that in the 1982 Falklands War.
British bomb disposal expert dies in Afghan explosion on New Year's Eve, ending grisly year for UK forces
By Mail Foreign Service
01st January 2010
Daily Mail
An Army bomb disposal expert was killed by an explosion in Afghanistan on New Year's Eve, the Ministry of Defence announced today.
The soldier, from 33 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, was fatally injured by a blast near Sangin in Helmand Province and died yesterday afternoon.
It is understood he was on patrol conducting controlled explosions in order to save the lives of his comrades when he was mortally wounded.
Grisly year: The bomb disposal expert's death near Sangin yesterday takes the toll for 2009 to 108, making it the bloodiest year since the Falklands
His family have been told of the tragedy. The soldier was from the same regiment as Corporal Loren Marlton-Thomas, 28, was was killed by a roadside bomb as he was clearing a route in Helmand back in November.
Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, from Task Force Helmand, said: 'He was part of the counter-IED task force, leading the fight against the improvised explosive device (IED) in Helmand. His sacrifice and his courage will not be forgotten.'
The latest fatality is the 108th for UK service personnel in the country in 2009 and brings to an end the Army's bloodiest year for deaths since the Falklands in 1982.
His death takes the overall toll for the war so far to 245. Around three-quarters of all British deaths in Afghanistan in 2009 are believed to be due to IEDs.
Gordon Brown admitted today that it had been a 'particularly tough' year for British forces and warned there may be more 'difficult months ahead'.
In his New Year's message, he cited the Christmas Day airline bomb plot as proof that the war is justified by the need to combat the terrorist threat to Britain from abroad.
This 'requires us to take on Al Qaeda and the Taliban at the epicentre of global terrorism', he said.
'While progress is difficult, I am working every day and will continue to step up our efforts with no let-up to disrupt the ability of terrorists to mount attacks on Britain, and to work with other countries to prevent terrorism on our streets.
'This will have my relentless focus in 2010, just as Afghanistan will have. We will steadily be giving more control of Afghanistan to Afghan troops and police,' he said.
Helmand, where many British troops are based, is particularly dangerous because it is a Taliban stronghold and a major centre of opium production.
One defence expert says the growing complexity of the bombs indicates they are receiving support either from state sponsors or experienced Islamist insurgents.
Dr Tim Bird, from King's College London, said last month: 'Initially, when we moved into Helmand in 2006, the Taliban were keen and eager to have pitched battles.
'They learned quickly that's not the best way to tackle a modern military and switched to IEDs, which hugely raised the death toll.'
The Government has been attacked by relatives of the fallen for failing to provide them with adequate equipment and vehicles to protect them from the explosives.
Last month, the Prime Minister pledged £150million over the next three years to tackle IEDs as he warned of more 'hard fighting' ahead.
Mr Brown said an extra £10million in urgent funding was being allocated for handheld mine detectors to be used alongside disposal robots.
He also announced plans for 'new and enhanced facilities' for training and improving intelligence to locate the deadly devices.
dailymail.co.uk