A SOLDIER of the Royal Anglian Regiment yesterday became the 100th British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan this year alone.The soldier, from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, who has not been named, died as a result of small arms fire in the Nad-e Ali area, in central Helmand Province.

A SOLDIER of the Royal Anglian Regiment yesterday became the 100th British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan this year alone.

The soldier, from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, who has not been named, died as a result of small arms fire in the Nad-e Ali area, in central Helmand Province.

Yesterday's death brings the total number of British service personnel who have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 to 237.

To date, a total of 11 servicemen from the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment - the Vikings - have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan.

The regiment also suffered the first British fatality of the war when Private Darren George died in April 2002.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said his thoughts were with the families and friends of all the 100 British personnel who have died this year.

“We mourn together the 100th British fatality in Afghanistan in 2009. My thoughts, and the entire nation's, are with the families and friends of every one of those brave men who have died this year; indeed, with every one of our service personnel who have lost their lives serving our country in Afghanistan since 2001.”

Last night, an MoD spokeswoman said a statement would be made by the regiment, which recruits soldiers from Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, today.