Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan conflict

A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan while another has died in hospital in England from injuries suffered in the conflict. A soldier from The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was killed today by a rocket propelled grenade in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province, the Ministry of Defence said. Another soldier from the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died today at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, more than a week after he was wounded in an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj area of the southern Afghan province. Both families of the soldiers have been informed. Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is with deep sorrow I must inform you that a soldier died of his wounds earlier today in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. "He was from the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, serving as part of the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles Battle Group, and had been seriously wounded in an explosion in southern Nahr-e Saraj on 24 August 2010. "The soldier was part of a patrol that was preventing insurgents from disrupting the building of an important road that will allow local Afghans to travel more freely. "His loss is a bitter blow but his bravery and selfless commitment to his men and the mission will never be forgotten. We will remember him." Carr-Smith also paid tribute to the soldier from The Royal Scots Borderers, who was serving as part of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force when he was killed. He said: "The soldier, serving with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, was part of an operation that was disrupting insurgents in northern Nad-e Ali when he was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade. "Selfless in the course of his duty he will be missed by his many friends. He was an inspirational soldier. We will remember him." There are about 10,000 British troops in Afghanistan. Since the beginning of operations in 2001, 334 British service personnel have died while serving in the country, with 89 killed so far this year.