Army Captain repatriated

The body of a British Army Captain who was shot dead by a rogue member of the Afghan army as he played in a football match on Remembrance Day has been repatriated to the UK.

Captain Walter Barrie was playing in a match on Sunday between British soldiers and members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) at his base when he was shot at close range in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province.

• UK
• Afghanistan
• Captain Walter Reid

Colonel Richard Kemp has told Daybreak that there has been an increase in attacks to British troops in Afghanistan.

He said: "The Taliban know we are getting out in 2014 and their efforts are focused on showing the world and their supporters that they are driving us out."

• World
• Afghanistan
• Captain Walter Reid

I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Captain Walter Barrie, an Army officer who had come up through the ranks and, in a long and distinguished military career, earned a reputation as a formidable soldier and valued colleague to so many.

Having served his country on many operational deployments over the years, he died on his latest: serving in Afghanistan to protect the security of the United Kingdom and its people.

Of course, the pain is hardest to bear for his family and friends and my deepest sympathies are with them at this time.

• World
• Philip Hammond
• Afghanistan

The Ministry of Defence has named a soldier killed by a member of the Afghan army in Helmand Province on September 11th.

Captain Walter Reid Barrie from The Royal Scots Borders, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment, was taking part in a football match between British soldiers and members of the Afghan National Army when he was shot at close range.

Captain Barrie was a Football Association trained coach and a passionate supporter of Rangers Football Club.

His wife Sonia said that her husband was "a great man, a doting and amazing father and a fantastic husband. He was much loved and will be missed by many."

He also leaves behind a 15-year-old son Callum.

• UK
• Mod
• Afghanistan

If the sheer number and spread of a man’s friends can be made a judgement of his quality then Captain Walter Barrie was a man of the greatest stripe. A man of effervescent humour, steely determination and the widest compassion, Walter was the epitome of the Scottish soldier; a self-confessed tearaway in his youth who hit top gear when he married his wife Sonia, then reaching the top of his profession, from Sandhurst Colour Sergeant to Regimental Sergeant Major to a Commission.

“His love for his family is well known and my thoughts go out to them at this difficult time as well as to his wider family and friends. Walter and I recently enjoyed his second passion and that was watching his beloved football team Rangers just before we deployed. This was a regular meeting for us both with our sons.

“Walter was a complete professional and dedicated to his profession. He had a natural, exceptionally sharp wit, which was enjoyed by all and he enjoyed nothing more than some ‘banter’ with the Jocks when the situation allowed.

• World
• Captain Walter Barrie
• Afghanistan

The Ministry of Defence has announced the death of a soldier from The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland as a result of an 'insider attack' while in Patrol Base Shawqat, in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province.

This is incredibly sad news for the Battalion and everyone serving in Task Force Helmand. As we mark Remembrance this weekend, our thoughts now turn to the soldier’s family and friends whose loss is so much greater than ours.

The soldier’s family have been informed and they have asked for a 24 hour period of grace before further details are released.

• World
• Afghanistan
• Captain Walter Reid