Tributes to sapper shot by ANA 'soldier' 10.01.13
13Tributes have been paid to a British soldier killed in an apparent "insider attack" who has been named as Sapper Richard Walker.
He was serving with 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to 21 Engineer Regiment, in Afghanistan as part of the Task Force Helmand Engineer Group when he was killed.
Sapper Walker was shot by a solider in an Afghan National Army uniform at Patrol Base Hazrat in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province on Monday.
He had been working on a construction task with other military engineers from his Troop, as part of the preparations to hand the camp over to Afghan security forces, when the Afghan soldier turned his weapon on ANA and ISAF soldiers at the base.
The incident resulted in a number of casualties, all of whom were extracted to the Bastion Role 3 medical facility where Sapper Walker was pronounced dead.
The Ministry of Defence says he was a valued member of 73 Armoured Engineer Section, popular and well respected, who was an avid football fan and represented his regiment. He was also a devoted father who talked endlessly about his love for his daughter Lilly-Faith, who sadly he only knew for 18 months before his deployment.
His family said: "Richard held two things close to his heart -- his daughter and his colleagues in the Army. A proud, patriotic man, he died doing a job he loved, supporting his friends."
For more information visit www.bfbs.com/news/afghanistan/tributes-sapper-shot-ana-soldier-62485.html