Awards for troops killed in service

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The honour, approved by the Queen and set out in a written statement to MPs by Defence Secretary Des Browne, could be worn by relatives of the dead armed forces personnel and will be accompanied by a scroll.

News of the move came shortly after the Ministry of Defence named the three soldiers killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan at the weekend, bringing the British death toll there to 100.

Mr Browne said the award would recognise the "terrible loss" families suffered when their loved ones were killed, and would come in addition to being remembered on the new Armed Forces Memorial in Staffordshire.

He added: "I pay tribute to the bravery and courage that the families of all our serving men and women show and I hope that the new award will provide a more visible form of recognition from the nation for those who pay the ultimate sacrifice in the name of their country."

A committee has been set up to consider the design of the award, who will receive it, and how far it should go back. Final details are expected later in the year.

More than 300 MPs had signed a Commons motion backing a 10-month campaign, championed by the Daily Mirror, for the recognition of military sacrifices - more than any other issue.

The newspaper said it could take the form of a silver cross, as in some Commonwealth countries, and could be awarded retrospectively to the families of those killed in previous conflicts.

Colonel Richard Kemp, the former head of British forces in Afghanistan who founded the campaign, told the Mirror: "I strongly welcome the decision by the Ministry of Defence to award a personal symbol of recognition to the next of kin of our servicemen and women killed on operations.

"They have made the supreme sacrifice in defence of their country and it is right that this should be recognised in a form that will not only provide some shred of comfort to their grieving families but can also be proudly handed down to future generations."