Sad RIR Soldier's Return

Royal Irish Ranger David Dalzell's body was flown home from Afghanistan this week.

A coffin carrying the remains of the Bangor Co Down soldier arrived at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire accompanied by a second coffin carrying Company Sergeant Major Colin Beckett (36), of 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

The hearses carrying the two fallen soldiers passed through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett.

Ranger Dalzell was killed last Friday in an 'operational accident' in the Nad-e-Ali district of Helmand province.

Their deaths brought the total number of UK military personnel to die since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001 to 354 - with two further casualties since added.

The latest soldiers to be killed have been today been named as Pte Lewis Hendry, of 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, and Pte Conrad Lewis, of 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment, who both died in small arms fire.

Both soldiers had been patrolling in the north of Nad-e Ali district in Helmand.

Pte Hendry, from Norwich, died at the scene after suffering gunshot wounds. He was three days off his 21st birthday.

Pte Lewis, from Bournemouth, was four months into his tour of Afghanistan when his patrol came under fire.

(BMcC/GK)