British soldier shot dead on patrol in Afghanistan The soldier was shot dead while taking part in a patrol to disrupt insurgent activity in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province, when his patrol came under attack from small arms fire. The Ministry of Defence said the soldier, who is yet to be named, died on Friday from gunshot wounds. Lieutenant Colonel John Kerner, spokesman for British Forces Helmand, said: "It is my sad duty to inform you that a soldier from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh has died as a result of injuries sustained while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province. The loss of the soldier will be felt by all in Task Force Helmand, but most deeply by his family and loved ones. Our thoughts and sympathy are with them at this difficult time. The 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh is based at The Dale Barracks in Chester, Cheshire, and has completed operational tours of both Iraq and Afghanistan. The light role infantry battalion spent two months in Kenya last year before being deployed on its current tour. The soldier becomes the 416th member of UK forces to have died since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001.