Britain's bloody record

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The deaths of two Irish Guards yesterday brought the total number of personnel killed in the two war zones to 58 since February 9.

The grim toll is more than at any other period since the invasion of Afghanistan in November 2001.

It is higher even than the violent first six months of the Iraq war in 2003, when 50 British troops were killed.

The latest deaths have led to renewed calls for British forces to be brought home. MP Mike Hancock said: 'I just think we've lost the plot completely.'

Four British servicemen have been killed in the past three days. The two Irish Guards were in a convoy west of Basra when they were killed by a roadside bomb. Two of their colleagues were injured in the attack.

On Tuesday night, Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard, 20, was killed while on patrol north of the British base at Basra airport. The day before Pte Craig Barber, 20, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, was shot dead in the city. It means 37 British troops have been killed in Iraq and 21 in Afghanistan since February 9, this year.

Mr Hancock, who sits on the Commons Defence Select Committee, called for troops to be pulled out, saying: 'We are not going to win this battle in Iraq and the insurgency is getting stronger all the time.'

However, defence giant BAE Systems said yesterday the 'high tempo' of the conflicts pushed up its profits by an extra £100million to £700million in the first half of the year.