Gurkha soldier killed in Afghanistan is named

A British soldier shot dead in Afghanistan on Friday has been named as Lance Corporal Gajbahadur Gurung.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed last night that he was shot while on foot patrol in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province. Known as "Gaj" to his friends, Lance Corporal Gurung, serving with 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, had spent three spells in Afghanistan.

Major Spiro Christopher Marcandonatos, his commanding officer, said he was "bright and well-educated", adding that he was "a 'people person' who abided by all the right values; a true Gurkha at heart, with a Western twist".