VC claims for Afghanistan heroes

The Mail on Sunday reported that citations had been written for two soldiers from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, which is still serving in Helmand Province.

The newspaper said one of those nominated was Captain David Hicks, 26, who was killed just three weeks ago in a Taliban attack on his patrol base north east of Sangin in Helmand.

He is said to have refused morphine, despite being mortally wounded, in order to lead a counter-attack.

The paper reported that the second was believed to be 20-year-old Lance Corporal Oliver Ruecker who braved a barrage of bullets and rockets to rescue a friend from a burning Viking armoured vehicle.

The Ministry of Defence said that it was too early to say whether the two had indeed been nominated and described speculation as not helpful to the families involved.

The report came as it emerged that a senior Taliban commander suspected of being responsible for Cpt Hicks's death had been captured in an operation in Helmand's Upper Sangin Valley involving the Royal Anglians.

The insurgent, named in the Sunday Telegraph as Niam Atallah, is believed to have launched attacks on Nato troops using a Russian SPG anti-tank missile launcher like that used in the incident in which Cpt Hicks was killed.

He was one of six Taliban fighters captured last week during Operation Palk Ghar, a fresh push against the Taliban in a section of Helmand's dangerous "Green Zone" in the Upper Sangin Valley.

Cpt Hicks's father Alun said he had no information to suggest that his son had been nominated for the VC but added that he was already a hero.