In Memoriam

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Scotland

It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lance Corporal Joseph McFarlane Pool of The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 5 September 2010.

Lance Corporal Pool was serving as part of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force in Helmand province, involved in conducting operations over the last few months aimed at bettering the lives of the local people by improving security and increasing their freedom of movement.

On Sunday 5 September 2010, the Brigade Reconnaissance Force were completing an operation in the Nad 'Ali (North) district to disrupt the insurgency by denying enemy freedom of movement and were conducting a series of searches on compounds of interest.

At approximately 0700hrs during an exchange of fire with insurgents, Lance Corporal Pool was killed in action following a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

Ministry of Defence statement.

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England

It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Captain Andrew Griffiths, from the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS) Theatre Reserve Battalion, died on Sunday 5 September 2010 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Captain Andy Griffiths was wounded in action by an explosion whilst leading his soldiers on an operation in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Tuesday 24 August 2010.

His platoon had cleared and occupied a compound that was to be used as a future patrol base during a security operation, but as he moved through the compound to allow entry for an approaching patrol he was caught in an explosion which seriously injured him.

He was given exceptional first aid, which undoubtedly kept him alive, before being evacuated by his soldiers and returned to the UK for further treatment. On Sunday 5 September 2010, with his family present, he died of his wounds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Ministry of Defence statement.