The British army soldier killed fighting in Afghanistan has been named as Australian citizen Stuart Nash.

Rifleman Nash, who had only joined the army in March after leaving his parents in Sydney, died from gunshot wounds sustained in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old was providing covering fire for other members of his battle-group at Zarghun Kalay in the Nad-e-Ali district of Helmand when he was struck by enemy fire.

Despite receiving immediate medical care and being transferred to a military hospital he died of his wounds.

Rifleman Nash's parents said they were "shattered" by the death of their son, described by the Ministry of Defence as a "popular and confident character".

"Stuart was doing what he most wanted to do in life, having harboured a wish for a military career since joining the cadets at the age of 13," Bill and Amanda Nash said.

"He went to the UK to join up to get a better opportunity to do real soldiering, which he has done, if only briefly. He was a willing volunteer; our soldiers have chosen their profession and we are, and will remain, proud of their willingness to make these sacrifices for the security of all of us who remain at home."

Rifleman Nash, nicknamed Oz by his British comrades, was remembered for his impressive and humbling loyalty, good humour, maturity and intellect by his commanding officer.

"Rifleman Nash was clearly thriving on the dual challenges of his own early professional service and the responsibilities of mentoring his Afghan National Army warrior colleagues," said Lieutenant Colonel Joe Cavanagh.

"He was honest about the difficulty and danger of his work, modest about his own reserves of courage, robust and determined to succeed. He was already enthusing - utterly realistically - about joining the battalion's reconnaissance or sniper platoons after this operation in Afghanistan.

"He would have been superb in either. He fell a hero, in combat alongside his fellow riflemen."


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