Soldier shot in Afghan rescue named

A British soldier killed in Afghanistan during a mission to rescue a kidnapped policeman has been named by the Ministry of Defence. Pte Gregg Thomas Stone from 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, was shot on Sunday in Helmand province. The 20-year-old from Hull was hit as he and colleagues rescued policeman Abdul Walid from insurgents. His death takes the number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001 to 416. The soldier, who had been in Afghanistan for less than a month, was expecting his first child, his commanding officer said. His wife, Samantha, said Pte Stone was a "brilliant husband" who loved his family. "He was always the one to want to make us laugh - he always cheered everyone up. He was proud to be a soldier and for what he had achieved in his work. "He would also want me to mention his dog Benji, who he loved to bits."