The two Parachute Regiment soldiers killed this week in Afghanistan were taking part in a special mission, code-named Operation Barma, to hunt down Taleban fighters known to be northeast of Sangin, the Ministry of Defence said yesterday.

They were identified as Warrant Officer 2nd Class Michael Williams, one of the most senior soldiers serving with the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, and Private Joe Whittaker, a Territorial Army soldier with the 4th Battalion, 48 of whose members are attached to 2 Para in Helmand province.

Both soldiers had been part of a 190-strong unit from 2 Para that was airlifted by Chinook helicopter on Tuesday at 2.30am into the Sapwan Qala area of the Upper Sangin Valley to conduct an intelligence-led operation to find Taleban. They were supported by Apache attack helicopters.

The unit met strong resistance but outmatched the Taleban and inflicted significant casualties.

Company Sergeant-Major Williams, 40, who had joined the Parachute Regiment in 1986, was shot during the engagement with the Taleban and died of his wounds. Private Whittaker, who was only 19, died the next day when there was an explosion while he was involved in trying to detect mines planted by the Taleban.

“The battalion has lost one of its most senior and its most junior soldiers,” Lieutenant-Colonel Joe O’Sullivan, commanding officer of 2 Para, said yesterday. Sergeant-Major Williams, known as Mark or “Weasel”, commanded the fire support group attached to C Company 2 Para. He had spent almost all of his 22-year career in 2 Para. He was unmarried and lived in Colchester, Essex.

In a eulogy, the MoD described Sergeant-Major Williams, as “a small man with huge depths of physical courage and stamina and a giant personality. Behind his kindness and sense of fun and adventure was the most professional soldier, who was loved and respected by the whole battalion, not least those under his command.”

Private Whittaker had already shown his potential. Having passed the Army officers’ selection board for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he was soon to begin his training as an officer. He had hoped to become an Apache pilot with the Army Air Corps.

He joined the TA in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2005 and transferred from 37 Signal Regiment to 4 Para last autumn. He was with 10 Company 4 Para, based in London.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ben Baldwin, commanding officer of 4 Para, said: “Afghanistan was his first operational tour and he showed no fear when chosen to be part of the Operation Barma team, a job fraught with danger. Joe relished the chance to be out on the ground and prove himself to his more experienced comrades.”

Naomi Whittaker, Private Whittaker’s mother, said: “Joe was a truly wonderful son. He had wanted to be in the Army since joining the School Cadets at the age of 13. He chose to undertake a tour of duty as a private soldier with the Parachute Regiment before going to Sandhurst next spring.”

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