School's tribute to dead soldier

A school is to hold a minute's silence in honour of a former student who died in Afghanistan last week.

Rifleman William Aldridge, of Bromyard, in Herefordshire, left Minster College in Leominster two years ago to start his Army career.

He was hurt in an explosion in Sangin, Helmand Province, and then killed in a second blast as he tried to rescue his comrades.

Aged 18, he was one of the youngest soldiers in Afghanistan.

He has been described by former teachers as a "model student".

The tribute will be held during assemblies later in the lower and upper schools, a spokesman said.

His family has said the teenager had "achieved his dreams" by becoming a Rifleman and was very aware of the sacrifice he faced by serving.

He was one of six soldiers to die in Afghanistan last Friday.

One hundred and eighty four UK service personnel have died in the conflict since 2001.

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