Duke of Lancaster soldier dies after Afghanistan explosion (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Duke of Lancaster soldier dies after Afghanistan explosion

8:16pm Sunday 5th September 2010 in

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A SOLDIER serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, has died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

The male soldier, who has not been named, died today as a result of injuries sustained from an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province on the morning of 24 August 2010.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, said: "It is with deep sorrow I must inform you that a soldier died of his wounds earlier today in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

"He was from the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, serving as part of the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles Battle Group, and had been seriously wounded in an explosion in southern Nahr-e Saraj on 24 August 2010.

"The soldier was part of a patrol that was preventing insurgents from disrupting the building of an important road that will allow local Afghans to travel more freely.

"His loss is a bitter blow but his bravery and selfless commitment to his men and the mission will never be forgotten.

"We will remember him."

Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment recruits exclusively from Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and the Isle of Man.