The wife of a British soldier shot dead in an insider attack as he played in a football match at his base in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province described her husband as a “great man”.
Captain Walter Barrie was playing in a match on Sunday between British soldiers and members of the Afghan National Army when he was shot at close range in the Nad-e Ali district, the Ministry of Defence said.
The 41-year-old, of The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, had served for 25 years.
His wife Sonia said: “Captain Walter Barrie was great man, a doting and amazing father and a fantastic husband. He was much loved and will be missed by many.
“The family would ask that their privacy is respected during this very difficult time.”
The death brought to 438 the number of British troops killed since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001. Of these, at least 395 were killed as a result of hostile action.
The killing is the latest in a series of “green on blue” attacks that have seriously undermined trust between NATO forces and their Afghan allies in the fight against Taliban hardline Islamist insurgents.
Wife pays tribute to fallen soldier husband
