UK soldier killed retrieving body

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Private Jason Williams, 23, from Worcester, of the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, died after setting off an improvised explosive device near Gereshk in Helmand Province on Saturday.

His family paid tribute to a "loving and caring son and brother".

Pte Williams died while taking part in an operation to secure an area where three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers had been killed earlier in the day.

One of the dead could not be found and the UK troops were trying to prevent the body falling into the hands of insurgents.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Banton, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, said Afghan soldiers now referred to Pte Williams as a hero for his "selfless sacrifice".

Lt Col Banton praised Pte Williams's cheerful can-do attitude and said he had made a "tangible difference" to the Afghan people where he was based in Helmand.

"He will be remembered by the Mercian Regiment with honour and by his mates for his irrepressible smile. Our prayers are with his family who are devastated by his loss."

Other senior officers described Pte Williams as a "constant source of morale" and a "shining star with an exceptionally bright future".

Pte Williams joined the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment last November and was deployed to Afghanistan this year as part of the Light Dragoons Battlegroup. His platoon operated from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Keenan in Zumbelay in the Upper Gereshk Valley, which they shared with a platoon of ANA soldiers.