Blast soldiers named

Sep 7 2007

TWO BRITISH soldiers killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Private Damian Wright, 23, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and Private Ben Ford, 18, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, were on routine patrol in Helmand province when their vehicle was hit on Wednesday.

A third soldier and a civilian interpreter were injured in the incident, which happened 10.5 miles north of Lashkar Gah. The interpreter later died.

The soldiers are the first fatalities from the newly formed 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), formerly known as the 1st Battalion the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th of Foot).

Pte Wright joined the Army in 2002, and completed his training at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick before joining C Company, 1st Battalion the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters in June 2003, while it was stationed in Chester.

During his time with the battalion he served in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Bosnia. He also took part in exercises in Kenya, Belize and Cyprus.