Carlisle soldier is first female victim of Afghanistan conflict

Last updated 09:16, Thursday, 19 June 2008

A Carlisle woman has become the first female UK soldier to be killed in Afghanistan.

Des Feely and daughter, Sarah Bryant. Mr Feely released this, his favourite picture of her, as a tribute

It has been confirmed locally that Sarah Bryant was one of four British soldiers who died after their vehicle was caught in an explosion.

She is the only child of Maureen and Des Feely, from Cotehill. Her husband Carl is also believed to be in military service.

It is just over a week since another Carlisle soldier was killed in Afghanistan. Private Charles David Murray died after being attacked by a suicide bomber on Sunday, June 8.

Segeant Bryant was working as an intelligence officer for the British Army and was with a group of four reservist Special Services soldiers in the Lashkar Gah region of Helmand Province in Afghanistan at 3.40pm on Tuesday when their Land Rover was blown up.

Three of the soldiers died at the scene and the fourth was pronounced dead on arrival at an Army medical base.

A fifth soldier was injured and is in a stable condition in hospital.

Terri Cartner, a long-term family friend who knew Mrs Bryant well, paid a moving tribute to the former Caldew School pupil, who was a talented horse rider.

Described as 'intelligent, beautiful, and courageous', Sarah had been regarded as a star recruit when she joined the Army after leaving school and was picked out for her role in the Army Intelligence Corps because of her exceptional abilities, she said.

Mrs Cartner added: "She just had a lot of courage. She was aware of the risks in what she was doing but she enjoyed the challenge. She was a lovely person and you always felt better for spending time with her. This is devastating news."

Mrs Bryant's parents were told of the tragedy early yesterday.

Nine British soldiers have now died in as many days, marking a sharp rise in attacks against troops. Last week, five soldiers from the Parachute Regiment were killed in two separate incidents in Afghanistan.

In the Commons, Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered his "profound condolences" to the families and friends of the four killed and those who died last week. He said the troops were undertaking "difficult missions in the most dangerous of countries" and said Britain's armed forces were "second to none and the best in the world."

He added: "They are on the noblest of missions. They are fighting for freedom for the Afghans, in their own country, and for the world in protecting us from terrorism. This House and this country is proud of them all."

The five soldiers were on patrol with Afghan National police, conducting vehicle checkpoints, when a mine exploded.

The deaths take to nine the number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan in the last 10 days.

Pte Murray came from a military family, with his grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle all serving in the forces.

His body was returned to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire this week along with the bodies of four others all from 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, based at Colchester, Essex.

Born in Dumfries, he grew up in Denton Holme, Carlisle, and attended the city’s Trinity School then Carlisle College.

At the age of 16 he began his military career at the Army Foundation College.

He was also a keen rugby league player and had represented the Army during a tour of Australia.

In a statement his family described him as “the little guy with the big heart”.