Kat (Air Marshal) Admin
Number of posts : 251 Age : 44 Localisation : Edinburgh, Scotland, UK Registration date : 2007-05-09
| Subject: Soldier killed at UK base named Tue May 22, 2007 1:36 pm | |
| L/Cpl Davey was described as selfless commander A British soldier who died in "a tragic firearms accident" in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence. An inquiry has been launched into the death of L/Cpl George Russell Davey, from the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, at a British base in Helmand.
The MoD said 23-year-old L/Cpl Davey, a father of two daughters, who was from Beccles, Suffolk, had been a "loyal, kind-hearted and selfless commander".
A spokesman said the death had not been the result of enemy action.
'Kind-hearted'
L/Cpl Davey, who was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, sustained his injuries at the British base in Sangin, Helmand Province.
In a statement the MoD said the soldier had been second in command of his platoon on an operation in Afghanistan since early April.
It said: "His quiet and unassuming demeanour helped him achieve impressive results. With the more junior soldiers in his section, he had a maturity beyond his years.
George Davey was a hard working, brave and humble soldier who will be sorely missed
Maj Mick Aston Officer Commanding B (Suffolk) Company
"He sought little praise or recognition for his actions, preferring to get on with the job in hand with the minimum of fuss."
The statement said L/Cpl Davey was a "pillar of strength" who had recently shown his fearlessness in "suppressing the enemy" at close quarters while under intense fire on a mission in the Sangin Valley.
It added he was a devoted family man who doted on his wife, Joanna, and two young daughters, Millie and Morgan.
'Tragic loss'
Maj Mick Aston, Officer Commanding B (Suffolk) Company, said: "George Davey was a hard working, brave and humble soldier who will be sorely missed by everyone in the Company."
Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "The loss of such a promising young soldier is very tragic. The family and friends of L/Cpl Davey are in my thoughts and prayers and I extend my heartfelt condolences to all who knew him."
The MoD said the circumstances of the accident would now be the subject of a Royal Military Police investigation.
The death is the 55th among British forces in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001. | |
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