The courage of our soldier son killed in bomb attack
THE family of an Edinburgh soldier killed in a Taliban rocket attack in Afghanistan have paid tribute to his bravery.
Married father-of-two Lance Corporal Ross Nicholls, 27, of the Blues and Royals Regiment, died along with two other British soldiers when their convoy was ambushed by around 50 militants on August 1 last year.
An inquest into the soldiers’ deaths yesterday heard their armoured vehicle was “totally devastated” by a roadside bomb during the assault.
It was reported today that the soldiers may be considered for a Victoria Cross for their actions during the ambush.
L/Cpl Nicholls was in the Army for 11 years, completing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He leaves a wife, Angela, young son, Cameron, and daughter, Erin.
Mrs Nicholls said after the inquest that he had decided to leave the Army and was due to finish his tour in February. They had just bought a new home in Milton Keynes.
She said: “We are proud of him and we all miss him.”
Last year, his father Andrew - who now lives in Australia - told the Evening News his son had “died a hero”.
He said L/Cpl Nicholls, who grew up in Murrays Brae, had wanted to join the Army from the age of 12.
The other men killed in the incident were Captain Alex Eida, 29, from Coulsdon, Surrey, of 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, and South African-born Second Lieutenant Ralph Johnson, 24, from Windsor, Berkshire, of the Household Cavalry Regiment.
The hearing at Oxford Coroner’s Court heard all three soldiers died from blast injuries caused by the explosion.
Their Spartan vehicle was targeted by insurgents who fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns as the convoy passed through a built-up area near Musa Qal’eh in Helmand province.
Lieutenant Thomas Long, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, who was travelling in the vehicle behind, told the inquest:
“As we approached, there was a huge explosion and I immediately saw a fireball as it rose above the compound and the rear door of the Spartan vehicle flew through the air about 50 metres.
“At that point my vehicle moved around the corner to see what was happening.
“It was obvious straight away that Captain Eida’s vehicle was the one struck.
“The vehicle was on fire and almost completely destroyed and unrecognisable at that stage.”
The inquest heard that for the next five to ten minutes there was a fierce firefight between the British soldiers and the Taliban insurgents before back-up arrived.
Two soldiers were later awarded medals for gallantry, one after braving enemy fire to help a wounded trooper from the vehicle that was hit.
Andrew Walker, Deputy Assistant Coroner for Oxfordshire, recorded verdicts of unlawful killing on all three soldiers.
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