Dead soldiers had the wrong kit

Ross Clark and Liam McLaughlin died in a rocket attack

Two British soldiers were wearing incorrect body armour when they were killed in Afghanistan last year, an inquest has heard.

Lance Bombardiers Liam McLaughlin, of Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, and Ross Clark, from South Africa, died after coming under Taleban fire.

The coroner, Andrew Walker, recorded verdicts of unlawful killing.

He said they had been improperly kitted out and an army standing order on correct body armour "was not followed".

"Those soldiers should not have been in the position they were without the appropriate equipment," he added.

L/Bmdr Ross Clark, 25, and L/Bmdr Liam "Paddy" McLaughlin, 21, died when militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at their tower in the Sangin area of Helmand province on 3 March.

They were both of the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.

We note the coroner's verdict of unlawful killing and wholeheartedly agree with his comments about the bravery and courage of these soldiers MoD spokesperson

Army directives stated that all soldiers must wear the latest Osprey body armour and Mark 6 Alpha helmets in any combat situation.

The inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court heard that L/Bmdr McLaughlin was instead wearing enhanced combat body armour (ECBA) and a "Para" helmet, which was "forbidden when contact with the enemy is likely".

He died from severe head injuries caused by the grenade's close range explosion.

L/Bmdr Clark was wearing a mixture of body armour kit and the correct helmet. He died from fragment wounds to the chest.

Chain of command

Although an expert said the men would have died even if they had been wearing the right kit, Coroner Andrew Walker said: "What concerns me is the standing order was not followed."

Major Martin Collins, a company commander, told the inquest that it had been their decision not to use the correct kit.

"They did not have it, not because they were not issued with it, but because they chose to deploy from Camp Bastion without it," he said.

But the coroner said it was not the fault of the soldiers but of "the Army's chain of command".

A MoD spokesperson said: "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families and friends of Lance Bombardier Ross Clark and Lance Bombardier Liam McLaughlin at this difficult time.

"We note the coroner's verdict of unlawful killing and wholeheartedly agree with his comments about the bravery and courage of these soldiers."