Volunteer shot in Helmand

A young soldier who volunteered to serve in Afghanistan to gain experience for a future career as an officer was killed within days of arriving in Helmand.

Rifleman Andrew Fentiman, 23, was shot whilst on foot patrol near Sangin on Sunday. A fortnight before he died he wrote a blog complaining that he and his fellow soldiers were still waiting for their new body armour and helmets. Last night the Ministry of Defence said that Rifleman Fentiman had not yet received the new, more comfortable, Osprey armour, but denied that it would have saved his life. "To come to Afghanistan as a soldier takes courage; to volunteer takes more so," said L/Cpl Mathew Davies, describing "Fen" as a "constant source of morale for the lads, with his cheerful and unique demeanour".

*An Army bomb-disposal expert killed in an explosion in Afghanistan on Sunday has been named. Cpl Loren Christopher Marlton-Thomas, 28, from 33 Engineer Regiment, died clearing a route in the Gereshk area of Helmand.