Tributes to soldiers killed by friendly fire

BRITISH Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and grieving relatives yesterday paid tribute to two British soldiers killed by “friendly fire” during a night-time battle in southern Iraq.

Corporal Stephen Allbutt, 35, and 19-year-old Trooper David Clarke died when their tank was hit by a British tank round near Basra.

As British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Hoon pledged a full inquiry into the circumstances of the incident, the men's families issued statements describing their loss.

The deaths bring the total number of British fatalities during the war to 20, two in combat and 18 in accidents or by "friendly fire".

In addition to the confirmed deaths, two British soldiers disappeared after their Land Rover came under attack close to Al Zubayr in southern Iraq on Sunday.

Mr Allbutt's widow Debbi, of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, said the Gulf War veteran and father-of-two had wanted to join the forces since he was a little boy.

"Although he was a quiet and reserved man he had a brilliant sense of humour and was a loyal and devoted friend and colleague," the 37-year-old said.

"He was also very romantic if we were going out anywhere he would often buy me flowers.

"I sometimes would find them in different rooms in the house. Just before he left for the Gulf he planted some daffodil bulbs in our garden as a surprise, so they'd come up while he was away.

"We loved each other deeply and words cannot express how much I'll miss him."

The corporal's mother, Mavis Allbutt, 60, added: "Steve was immensely proud to belong to the Army. It was something he believed in.

"He doted on Debbi and their two boys, Connor who is eight and Joshua, aged 14."

Trooper Clarke's father Jeffrey, of Littleworth, Stafford, spoke of his pride in his son, who had loved his role as a tank driver.

The distraught 41-year-old said: "He was greatly loved and will be deeply missed by all his family."

Clarke, a former pupil at Weston Road High School, Stafford, was engaged to his childhood sweetheart, 18-year-old Rachel Furniss, and was due to marry next year.

Earlier, Mr Hoon expressed regret over the "tragic" deaths.

"It appears that in the heat of battle, when one tank was coming under attack, it turned and fired on another tank, and sadly another tank was also a British tank," the minister said.

Mr Blair promised the "fullest possible" inquiry into last Monday's incident.

A friend of Mr Allbutt, himself a Gulf War veteran, said he had spoken of his concerns at the dangers of "friendly fire". Former Royal Navy engineer Lee Goldstraw, 33, said he had discussed the issue with his friend when they returned to Britain after Operation Desert Storm in 1991.