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UK Soldier Shot Dead While Playing Football

UK Soldier Shot Dead While Playing Football

A British soldier who was killed by a rogue member of the Afghan army as he played in a football match on Remembrance Day has been hailed as a "great man" and an "amazing father" by his wife.

Captain Walter Barrie was playing in a match between British soldiers and members of the Afghan National Army (Ana) at his base when he was shot at close range in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province, the Ministry of Defence said.

Capt Barrie, from Glasgow, had been mentoring and advising a brigade of the Ana to take over security in an area of southern Afghanistan.

His wife Sonia said: "Captain Walter Barrie was great man, a doting and amazing father and a fantastic husband. He was much loved and will be missed by many.

"The family would ask that their privacy is respected during this very difficult time."

Capt Barrie, who leaves behind 15-year-old son Callum, had served for 25 years, which included tours of Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan in 2008.

The 41-year-old, who was deployed on August 31, was in the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

He was described by the MoD as an "approachable and compassionate officer" who "cared deeply for the wellbeing of those around him and had unparalleled rapport with all ranks".

Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Wrench said: "His role as an adviser to the Afghan army was one he trained for, looked forward to and performed superbly.

"His ability to build relationships and rapport has always made an impact on those who met him. This was down to his enthusiasm for life, for youth and humanity.

"As can be seen from the many tributes, he enriched the lives of everybody he came across. His winning personality and Glaswegian wit will be sorely missed, as will the banter we often had as a result of his fanatical support for Glasgow Rangers.

"It is almost impossible to express the sadness we, as a close battalion, are experiencing at this time.”

The "green on blue" death brings the number of British servicemen killed by Afghan soldiers or police to 14 this year, compared to just one in 2011, three in 2010, and five in 2009.

Capt Barrie is the 438th UK service member to be killed in Afghanistan since October 2001.

News of the killing came after the Queen led the nation in honouring the fallen, as the country fell silent to remember its war dead.