Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence.
Lieutanant Andrew Robert Chesterman, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, and Lance Corporal Matthew David Smith, rom the Corps of Royal Engineers, were killed within 48 hours of each other in two separate incidents in Nad-e-Ali district in helmand Province.
Lt Chesterman was commanding a vehicle patrol on Thursday when the lead carrier was struck by a roadside bomb.
The Ministry of Defence said that as Lt Chesterman moved forward to take control of the situation, insurgents opened fire and he was shot.
The 26-year-old of Guildfird, Surrey, was taken to hospital in Camp Bastion but could not be saved.
Lance Corporal Smith died in action on Friday, while undertaking a construction task.
He was part of a troop tasked to build a new checkpoint next to the Nahr-e-Bughra Canal when he was hit by small arms fire.
The 26-year-old, from Aldershot, received immediate first aid and was evacuated by helicopter, but died of his wounds.
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