MoD names two Royal Marines killed in Afghanistan

By ojones

The two Royal Marines killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan were named today.

They were Marine Neil Dunstan, originally from Bournemouth, and Marine Robert McKibben, 32, from Westport in Co Mayo.

They two men died along with a comrade when their Jackal vehicle was bombed during a patrol in Helmand province on Wednesday.

The two men were part of a unit called the UK Landing Force Command Support Group.

A third British marine was also injured and is currently being flown back to Sellyoak Hospital in Birmingham for treatment.

They were taking part in a joint patrol with soldiers from Afghan security forces when their vehicle was struck by an explosive device in the Garmsir district of Southern Helmand on Wednesday afternoon.

Commander Paula Rowe, of Task Force Helmand, said: "This is a tragic blow to us all in the task force, but our loss is nothing compared to that of their families and loved ones.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this terrible time."

Hundreds of troops from RMB Chivenor, near Barnstaple, are currently based in Afghanistan as part of 3 Commando Brigade.

North Devon Journal reporter Chloe Hubbard is with the troops in Afghanistan and was close to the scene of the explosion.

She said: "The explosion happened just a mile north of a 54-vehicle Commando Logistics Patrol, headed up by Chivenor's Commando Logistics Regiment, which I was travelling with.

"Dusk had just set when we heard an explosion and saw flames on the horizon, followed by several flares being shot into the air for lighting.

"All of the vehicles in the convoy turned off their lights to hide, and as we waited we heard the Medical Emergency Response Team from Camp Bastion arrive in a Chinook.

"At this stage over the radio we were told it was an Afghan Army vehicle that had been struck.

"The two lads in the cab of the vehicle I was in went into themselves and suddenly became very alert.

"One of them said: 'Someones's been hit, keep your wits about you.'

"The CLP then changed its route away from the river bed, and we camped out in the desert for the night.

"The marines had been eating alongside CLR at the forward operating base just minutes before both parties left the base.

"We were informed about the British deaths when we returned to Camp Bastion at 4pm this afternoon after driving through the desert for 10 hours.

"Everyone in the camp is shaken, and those on the CLP are visibly aware of how close they came.

"Flags at Bastion are all flying at half mast. Col Andy Maynard of Chivenor, who broke the news to us said: 'It is very, very sad.'

"It is thought that insurgents may have seen the CLR convoy enter the base, and laid the mines to ambush it on the return journey."

The two men who died are believed to be based in Plymouth.

The Ministry of Defence said the men's next of kin have been informed. Their families have asked for a 24-hour period of grace before more information is released, the MoD said.

The two Marines were operating as part of Task Force Helmand's Information Exploitation Group, which is responsible for gathering information to improve situational awareness and to gain an advantage over enemy forces.

The incident happened at 4.47pm local time yesterday.

The marines were on a routine patrol and the cause of the explosion is not yet known.

Brigadier General Richard Blanchette of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said: "Our deepest sympathies go out to their family, friends and fellow soldiers.

"Their lives are irreplaceable to all of us who fight for the peace and stability of Afghanistan."

The deaths bring the number of British services personnel killed in Afghanistan since operations began to 124.

The deaths follow a survey published by ICM Research yesterday, which showed more than two-thirds of the population believe UK troops should be withdrawn from Afghanistan in the next year.