MoD names troops killed in Afghanistan

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the names of three British soldiers who were killed in an ambush in Afghanistan.

Captain Alex Eida, 2nd Lieutenant Ralph Johnson and Lance Corporal Ross Nicholls were killed in the northern Helmand Province on August 1.

The Ministry of Defence said that the vehicle the soldiers were travelling in - a tracked Spartan armoured reconnaissance vehicle - was attacked by insurgents with rocket propelled grenades and heavy machine guns.

A fourth soldier, who was also injured during the attack, has not yet been named.

Capt Eida, 29, from 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, was single and lived in Surrey. He had previously been deployed to Iraq in 2003 during the initial war-fighting phase and was also deployed to Kosovo in 2004 in a covert surveillance role.

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel David Hammond, described him as "a gifted young officer and friend" who was "a leading light of the unit".

Capt Eida's father, Derek, and mother, Jenny, released a statement saying they were "devastated" by the news of his death. The statement said: "Our only consolation is that Alex enjoyed every minute of his life in the Army, in particular serving with 7 Para RHA, to which his passion for fitness, adventure and professionalism were ideally suited. We all loved him very much and will never forget him."

2nd Lt Johnson, 24, from Household Cavalry Regiment, was also single and lived in Windsor. He joined the Life Guards last August.

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Smyth-Osbourne, described him as "brave, determined and thoroughly loyal to his soldiers and superiors". He said: "It was obvious to all that he adored his time in the Army. In Afghanistan, he displayed real composure and huge professional competence in a novel, harsh and unforgiving environment - and it was typical that, during the early hours of August 1, he was leading from the front when killed in an ambush in Northern Helmand."

L/Cpl Nicholls, 27, from central London, also served with the Household Cavalry Regiment. He was married with a two-year-old son and a newborn baby girl.

L/Cpl Nicholls had previously completed a number of operational tours, including both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Lt Col Smyth-Osbourne said that he embraced life with the regiment with "gusto and enthusiasm". He said: "He volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan despite the fact he had decided to leave the Army and was serving as Lt Johnson's operator when he was killed."

L/Cpl Nicholls grandfather, Andrew, called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to "get on a uniform, man, and go and fight".

Nearly 4,000 UK troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan. The recent death bring the total number of British troops killed in Afghanistan this year to nine.

(KMcA)