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01/09/2011
Name of Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Released
The Ministry of Defence has released the name of the latest British soldier to be killed during the Afghanistan conflict.
Sergeant Barry John Weston, from Kilo Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, became the 379th British solder to be killed during an operation in the Helmand province on Tuesday August 30.
Sgt Weston was killed while leading a patrol operating near the village of Sukmanda in southern Nahr-e Saraj district. According to the MoD, the patrol was participating in an operation to draw insurgents away from the civilian population in order to disrupt their activity and further expand the influence of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
During the patrol, Sgt Weston was fatally injured by an improvised explosive device (IED).
Lieutenant Colonel Ewen Murchison MBE Royal Marines, Commanding Officer 42 Commando Royal Marines, Coalition Force Nad 'Ali (North), said: "One of life's real characters, he will be remembered for his dry, sharp sense of humour and canny ability to make light of the direst of situations."
Defence secretary Liam Fox also paid tribute to him: "I was very saddened to learn of the death of Sergeant Barry Weston, a Royal Marine of huge experience and great standing within his unit.
The current death toll resulting from the Afghan operations currently stands at around 40,000, although estimates vary. Around 50% are civilian deaths.
The news of the latest killing coincides with Thursday's ceremony, marking the transfer of military repatriations from RAF Lyneham to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Repatriations previously went through Lyneham in Wiltshire, where residents of Wootton Bassett lined the streets.
Future corteges will now leave a new £2.8m repatriation centre at Brize Norton, near the town of Carterton, where a memorial garden has been built.
(DW/BMcC)
Sergeant Barry John Weston, from Kilo Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, became the 379th British solder to be killed during an operation in the Helmand province on Tuesday August 30.
Sgt Weston was killed while leading a patrol operating near the village of Sukmanda in southern Nahr-e Saraj district. According to the MoD, the patrol was participating in an operation to draw insurgents away from the civilian population in order to disrupt their activity and further expand the influence of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
During the patrol, Sgt Weston was fatally injured by an improvised explosive device (IED).
Lieutenant Colonel Ewen Murchison MBE Royal Marines, Commanding Officer 42 Commando Royal Marines, Coalition Force Nad 'Ali (North), said: "One of life's real characters, he will be remembered for his dry, sharp sense of humour and canny ability to make light of the direst of situations."
Defence secretary Liam Fox also paid tribute to him: "I was very saddened to learn of the death of Sergeant Barry Weston, a Royal Marine of huge experience and great standing within his unit.
The current death toll resulting from the Afghan operations currently stands at around 40,000, although estimates vary. Around 50% are civilian deaths.
The news of the latest killing coincides with Thursday's ceremony, marking the transfer of military repatriations from RAF Lyneham to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Repatriations previously went through Lyneham in Wiltshire, where residents of Wootton Bassett lined the streets.
Future corteges will now leave a new £2.8m repatriation centre at Brize Norton, near the town of Carterton, where a memorial garden has been built.
(DW/BMcC)
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MoD names Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan
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