Tributes paid to soldier killed in Afghanistan

Lance Corporal James Ashworth from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guard Credit: MoD Crown Copyright/PA Wire

A second solider has been killed in Afghanistan this week, the Ministry of Defence said today.

The British soldier killed in a grenade blast on Wednesday was named as Lance Corporal James Ashworth from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

Lance Corporal Ashworth was thought to have been killed while on patrol in the north of Nahr-e Saraj district in the Helmand province. He died despite receiving medical attention.

The family of the 23-year-old from Kettering in Northamptonshire paid tribute to him:

Lance Corporal Ashworth joined the Army aged 17 and spent three years with the Guards' Parachute Platoon, part of the 3rd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment, deploying in Afghanistan with them.

Lieutenant Colonel James Bowder MBE, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, said:

The Lance Corporal had returned to the Grenadiers, serving in Canada with The Queen's Company before moving to the Reconnaissance Platoon and had recently been promoted to the role of non commissioned officer.

The Ministry of Defence also announced that a soldier from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment has been killed this week in the Nad-e Ali district of the Helmand province. His family have been told.