Army officer defused 13 bombs in just 36 hours

By Sam Marsden, Press Association Chief Reporter, in Lashkar Gah

A British Army officer killed in Afghanistan defused 13 bombs in just 36 hours before his death, it was revealed today.

Captain Dan Shepherd, 28, died trying to dismantle a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) in Helmand Province last month.

Days earlier he had led his bomb disposal team into a key drugs bazaar near Babaji in Helmand as part of Operation Panther's Claw, a major British-led assault on a Taliban stronghold.

The military experts spent three days clearing the area of explosive devices to make it safe for the soldiers of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and local people.

Capt Shepherd, from Lincoln, of the Royal Logistics Corps, was hailed a hero after his death on July 20 for defusing more than 50 IEDs during his time in Afghanistan.

This month his colleagues held workshops in Sangin, an area of Helmand blighted by IEDs, to teach local Afghans how to deal with the threat.

Major Guy Stone, 37, from Putney, west London, commander of the Welsh Guards team mentoring Afghan soldiers in Sangin, said: "Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for young children to tread on these devices and tragically kill themselves."

One senior British officer in Helmand described Sangin as "in effect a low-density minefield".

The officer said it took "nerves of steel" for the British riflemen stationed in the area to go out on their daily patrols.

But he insisted progress was being made in Sangin, and said that there had been successes there which had not been made public for security reasons.

Captain Daniel Shepherd killed in Afghanistan

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Captain Daniel Shepherd from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, was killed in Afghanistan on Monday 20 July 2009.

Captain Shepherd was serving with the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group when he died following an explosion in Nad-e-Ali District in Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan.

At the time of his death, Captain Shepherd was commanding an Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) team within the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group who were dealing with a confirmed IED.

Working in concert with a Royal Engineers Search Team, their task was to clear a route in order to ensure that an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) re-supply convoy and the local Afghan population were able to move freely through a particularly area.

Another member of his team suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Captain Daniel Shepherd

Captain Shepherd aged 28, was married and came from Lincoln. Following a degree in Electrical Engineering, he joined the Royal Logistic Corps on Commissioning from Sandhurst in August 2003.

He subsequently attended specialist logistic training before, as a junior officer, joining 8 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, with whom he served in Iraq in 2004.

In 2007 he attended and passed Ammunition Technical Officer training before being posted to 11 EOD Regiment RLC as a Troop Commander and Joint Service IED Disposal Operator with Northolt Troop, 621 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron, providing bomb disposal support in the Greater London area.

In December 2008 he joined the select group of our very best Bomb Disposal operators by attending and passing the IEDD No1 (High Threat) course.

In Afghanistan, Captain Shepherd commanded an IED Disposal Team within the Joint Force EOD Group. His role was to conduct IED Disposal operations, clearing the way to make routes safe for ISAF and the Afghan people, during the course of his tour he had already dealt with over 50 devices and he died whilst deployed in support of Operation PANCHAI PALANG.

He was at his very best on operations and excelled in the demanding operational environment of Southern Afghanistan. Such was his talent and operational experience that he was shortly to take up a high profile appointment, focused on countering the threat from IEDs in Afghanistan, at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood.

Captain Shepherd leaves behind his wife, Kerry, his devoted parents David and Judith and his brother Paul.

Capt Shepherd's wife, Kerry, said:

"He was doing what he loved. I was so proud of him. I have not lost just a husband but a best friend and he will be missed by everyone."

The family of Capt Shepherd said:

"We are very proud of our youngest son and husband. He lived life to the full. Daniel worked hard to achieve all he set out to do in his career in the Army. He has left a huge hole in our family and our lives and will be sadly missed. He is in our thoughts, always."