THE first British soldier to be killed in southern Afghanistan died while trying to rescue a wounded colleague under enemy fire, senior military sources said yesterday.

Captain James Philippson leapt out of his armoured Land Rover and was trying to move the injured soldier out of the line of fire when he was killed by Taleban fighters. Another member of the rescue team was also hit, and he was severely wounded.

Captain Philippson, 29, was part of a quick-reaction force that had gone to the rescue of British troops who had been ambushed while on patrol in the Sangin district, in the north of Helmand province. They arrived in armoured Land Rovers to find a convoy of British vehicles pinned down by Taleban fighters who were firing from nearby buildings. Captain Philippson and his men jumped from their vehicles, firing their SA80 rifles as they ran to protect the convoy and to reach the wounded soldier.

The injured man was successfully removed under fire, but while he was being pulled to safety a burst of Taleban gunfire hit Captain Philippson and the other member of the quick-reaction force. The remaining soldiers from the original patrol and from the reaction force managed to withdraw without further injuries.

One of the wounded soldiers was airlifted out of Afghanistan for emergency treatment, and the other was being treated at Camp Bastion, the British military base outside Laskar Gar, Helmand. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said that the two wounded soldiers were in a serious but stable condition.

Captain Philippson, from 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, was trained as a commando and as a paratrooper, and he had served a long tour in Iraq.

His father, Anthony Philippson, said yesterday that his “wonderful and brave son” had insisted on being deployed to Afghanistan because he believed that he would be needed there for the new mission in Helmand, home of the Taleban and drugs barons.

Captain Philippson, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, had a close girlfriend who was said to be devastated by the loss. The officer’s mother, who has remarried and lives in Portugal, was told of her son’s death on Monday. Captain Philippson’s father was on holiday in Spain. Another of his sons contacted him by phone at 2am on Monday after hearing the news of his brother’s death on Sunday night. “We are all trying to come to terms with his death,” Mr Philippson said.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Hammond, the commanding officer of 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, said that Captain Philippson had been with the regiment for only a short period, but that his “commitment, passion and drive” had had a “tremendous” influence.

“He was a top-quality officer,” Colonel Hammond said. “The commitment he showed to his task in Afghanistan and every challenge he undertook was an inspiration. He was a rising star in every sense who had a huge amount to offer.”

Captain Philippson joined the Army in January 2001 and, after completing the course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, was commissioned into the Royal Artillery. He was selected for posting to 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, which provides 105mm gun support for the Royal Marines.

He passed the commando course and served with the commando gunners in Iraq as well as on exercises in Norway, the US and Cyprus.

He switched to 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in February while it was preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. His role in Helmand had been to train the Afghan National Army.

His family said in a statement: “The only consolation we can take from losing a loving son and brother is that he died courageously doing the job he loved. We will remember him for his determination, bravery and fun-loving nature.”

The MoD said: “He will be remembered as a gifted, considerate and popular officer.”

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