British Soldiers' Deaths 'A Hammer Blow'

By Jane Chilton, Scotland Correspondent

A comrade of three British soldiers killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan earlier this week has described their deaths as a "hammer blow".

Corporal William Savage, 30, Private Robert Hetherington, 25, and Fusilier Samuel Flint, 21, died in Helmand Province on Tuesday.

They were caught by a bomb during a routine patrol as they travelled through Nahr-e Saraj in a Mastiff heavy-armoured vehicle.

Six other men were injured in what was the first case of British troops dying in a Mastiff since the vehicles were introduced into the warzone in 2007.

Cpl Savage and Fusilier Flint were both from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 Scots).

Pte Hetherington, who was born in the US but raised in Scotland, was from 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (7 Scots).

Mastiffs are heavily armoured in order to provide protection from bombs

Major Tim Petransky, a spokesman for 2 Scots, said outside Glencorse barracks near Edinburgh that the mood in the regiment was "sombre but determined".

"The loss of three of our brothers in arms in any circumstances would be tragic but to lose three in one go is a hammer blow," he said.

"I know that the battalion, its families and the regiments as a whole will, with great stoicism, pride and professionalism, carry on in a manner that would have made our three men proud.

"Those in Afghanistan will now be concentrating on the job at hand - putting back on their body armour, picking up their rifles and getting on the ground to continue this difficult but vital mission.

"Our thoughts are also very much with our sister battalion 7 Scots, to which Private Hetherington belonged. They too will be grieving."

Tributes have been left outside the main gates of 2nd Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, in Penicuik, Mid Lothian.

One note read: "Sleep in peace my soldier laddies. Sleep in peace now the battle's o'er." Another said: "Rest in peace our hero lads. From the mother of a son."

Cpl Savage's wife Lyndsey, who is pregnant with their first child, has spoken of her devastation but pride of her husband and what he achieved.

"I have lost the love of my life and the father of our son. I know his life will live on through so many amazing memories that we shared together," she said in a statement.

Fusilier Flint had only been in the army since November 2011 and was sent to Afghanistan in March.

His family said in a statement: "The whole family is completely devastated. Everyone should know that Sam loved his job and made his whole family and everyone that knew him very proud.

"Sam was always the life and soul of the party, a real ladies' man, witty,  funny, the real cheeky chappy.

"He was a loving son, the protective brother, courageous nephew, the caring uncle, the loyal grandson that anyone would wish to have."

The men were on a routine patrol in Helmand Province

Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay, Pte Hetherington's commanding officer, said he epitomised "everything that is excellent about the reserve forces".

"Private Bobby Hetherington was a thoughtful and humorous soldier who was always quick to find the fun in Army life and to keep the chain of command on our toes with his sharp wit and insightful mind," he said.

"He was gregarious and open, and this made him a much-liked and respected member of his platoon and the battalion."

The bodies of the three soldiers are expected to be repatriated next Thursday.

Their deaths take the British death toll from the conflict to 444. Six soldiers have now died this year.

Five of the six soldiers injured in the blast have already been flown back to Britain for hospital treatment. The sixth is due to return soon.

An investigation is under way into the explosion, which is thought to have involved a particularly large bomb.

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