Soldier killed inAfghanistan named

(PA)

Two soldiers from the same regiment were killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan yesterday.

One soldier from 21 Engineer Regiment was killed in a blast and another in a traffic accident, both in the Nad-e-Ali area of Helmand, the Ministry of Defence said. Next of kin have been informed.

The first was killed while travelling to meet local contractors prior to continuing with reconstruction programmes. The second had been conducting reconnaissance as part of a team to replace a bridge when he was killed in a traffic accident.

Meanwhile a solder killed on Sunday in Sangin, Helmand Province, was named as Corporal Harvey Alex Holmes, 22, from Hyde, Greater Manchester. He was killed by an improvised explosive device.

His family released a statement which read: "Harvey lived for his family and his friends but his passion was the Army. He has made his family extremely proud for the sacrifice he has made and will be missed every day."

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Hadfield, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire), said: "He showed true promise and had a great future, but this has been cruelly stolen from him, his family, his girlfriend and his many friends. He was the epitome of the modern British soldier and we will miss him deeply."

Corporal Holmes' death was the first since 7 April. Yesterday's deaths take the number of British service personnel who have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 to 284.