Family, army and MoD pay tributes to corporal who died on Sunday
Mark Tran
Two soldiers from 21 Engineer Regiment were killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan yesterday as the Ministry of Defence paid tribute to Corporal Harvey Alex Holmes, who died on Sunday.
Yesterday's fatalities, both in the Nad-e Ali area of Helmand province, took the number of British troops who have died in the war in Afghanistan to 284.
One soldier was killed in an explosion and another in a traffic accident, the MoD said. Next of kin have been informed.
The man who died in the blast was on his way to meet Afghan contractors about reconstruction programmes.
"He died seeking to improve the lives of the people of Helmand province," said Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand. "His sacrifice will not be forgotten".
The other soldier was part of a team conducting a reconnaissance to replace a bridge over a canal.
"He died in the course of his duty; we will remember him," said Carr-Smith.
As the MoD announced the latest deaths, it released details about Holmes, 22, of 1st Battalion, The Mercian regiment.
Holmes, from Hyde, Greater Manchester, was engaged to Claire, and had served in Northern Ireland, Belize, the Falklands and Iraq. He was providing protection for his patrol as it investigated a compound when he was killed by an improvised explosive device in Sangin.
"Harvey lived for his family and his friends but his passion was the army," his family said. "He has made his family extremely proud for the sacrifice he has made and will be missed every day. Harvey has died a true hero and will be with us forever in our hearts".
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Hadfield, commanding officer 1st Battalion, The Mercian regiment (Cheshire), said: "Corporal Harvey Alex Holmes, known as Holmesy to his many friends within the regiment, was a fine soldier, every inch the Mercian infantryman. He showed true promise and had a great future, but this has been cruelly stolen from him, his family, his girlfriend and his many friends ... He had been promoted twice in quick succession, most recently to corporal just last Christmas. He was an exceptional leader and commander, and helped others to give of their best".
The Guardian
