'Friendly Fire' Death Soldier Named

A soldier killed in a suspected 'friendly fire' incident in Afghanistan this week has been named as Sapper Mark Anthony Smith, 26, from 36 Engineer Regiment.

Sapper Smith died while serving with the Counter-IED Task Force in the Sangin area of Helmand province. He was part of a team supporting 40 Commando Royal Marnes Battlegroup, carrying out a clearance of improvised explosive devices.

The Ministry of Defence said that while the team were moving into position, a smoke screen was requested to enable their movement. A statement released by the MoD said: "Initial reports suggest that one of the smoke shells may have fallen short of its intended target, tragically killing Sapper Smith". An investigation has been launched.

Sapper Mark Anthony Smith was from Swanley, Kent. He enlisted into the Corps of Royal Engineers in June 2001 and, following training as a Combat Engineer and trade training as a Communications and Information Systems Operator, he was posted to 36 Engineer Regiment in December 2002.

He deployed to Iraq in 2003 and deployed on his first tour to Afghanistan in 2007. In April 2010, he volunteered for a second tour to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 12 having successfully completed the Royal Engineer Search Course.

Sapper Smith was a member of the Joint Force Explosive Ordance Disposal Group, part of the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force. His role was as a Searcher in a Royal Engineer Search Team.

Lieutenant Colonel David Southall from the Royal Engineers, said: "Sapper Mark Smith, or Smudge to his friends, was one of life's real characters. A scruffy, loveable wheeler-dealer, he was often near to, but never seemingly the cause of, endless mischief. Big in character and big in heart, he'd charm his way out of the stickiest of situations and we loved him for it. Having served the Corps for eight years, Smudge volunteered for a second tour in Afghanistan as part of a C-IED Search Team.

"He plied his trade daily, hunting out IEDs in the most deadly of areas. As an accomplished senior Sapper, the younger lads relied much on his presence, his sharp eye and quick wit sustained them all through thick and thin. Mark's death, a tragic accident, has shocked us all.

"He leaves behind his mother and brother whose grief we share at this most difficult of times."

(KMcA/GK)