MoD name slain soldier

A British soldier who died in a grenade attack on his base in southern Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael Smith, 39, from Liverpool, died in hospital after the attack on the base in Sangin, in Helmand Province on Thursday.

He is the 52nd British serviceman to die in the country since the start of operations in November 2001.

The soldier, of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, had 22 years of military service.

During his time with the regiment he had deployed on operations to Northern Ireland, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Neil Wilson, called him an "institution" within the regiment.

Lt Col Wilson added: "Sergeant Major Smith was an indomitable character and an institution both within his battery and the wider regiment."

He added: "He defined the levels of professionalism and commando ethos that we demand of all our soldiers, and his loss is an enormous blow to every one of us."

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