The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom against the Taliban regime in autumn 2001.
As of 22 February 2020 there has been a total of 457 fatalities of British Forces personnel including Ministry of Defence (MoD) civilians. The vast majority of fatalities have taken place since the redeployment of British forces to the Taliban stronghold of Helmand province, as prior to deployment in this area only five men died between April 2002 and early March 2006.
In all, 404 of the fatalities are classed as killed "as a result of hostile action" and 51 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation. The Army has seen the heaviest losses, with 362 fatalities as of 1 May 2013. Typically those killed were aged between 20 and 29 and the biggest losses seen in 2009 and 2010. Of those killed, 439 were male and three were female.
For the period 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2013 centrally available records show that:
2,116 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals and categorised as Wounded in Action, including as a result of hostile action. 4,529 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals for disease or non-battle injuries. 293 UK personnel were categorised as Very Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease. 298 UK personnel were categorised as Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease. 6,663 UK personnel were aeromedically evacuated from Afghanistan on medical grounds, for whatever reason.
In February 2010, the British death toll in Afghanistan exceeded that of the Falklands War.
Background
See Operation Toral, Operation Herrick, and Operation Veritas.
Supporting invasion of Afghanistan and serving in the Northern NATO command
Non-hostile deaths
The first three British casualties were non-hostile deaths in Kabul, from suicide, accidental weapons discharge and homicide.
During 2002, Private Darren John George, aged 23, from the Royal Anglian Regiment, was killed by a ricocheting bullet fired by a comrade who had a dizzy spell.
During August 2002, Sergeant Robert Busuttil, aged 30, from the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) and Corporal John Gregory, aged 30, from the RLC. Despite orders rationing beer to just two small cans a day to help prevent such events occurring, Corporal Gregory became involved in a drunken fight with Sergeant Busuttil at a barbecue. Gregory then left the barbecue and returned with a loaded SA80 rifle and killed Busuttil, firing the rifle at him "up to ten times". Gregory then committed suicide with the weapon. The Army was subsequently criticised by Wiltshire coroner David Masters when he recorded verdicts of unlawful killing on the death of Sergeant Busuttil and suicide on Corporal Gregory.
2004 Kabul suicide attack
On 28 January 2004, Private Jonathan Kitulagoda, aged 23, from the Rifle Volunteers TA was killed, and four injured in a suicide attack in Kabul. The British troops were in armoured [LTV] vehicles when a taxi swerved into their convoy and a bomber detonated 200Ibs of explosives.
Mazar e-Sharif attack
On 29 October 2005, Lance Corporal Steven Sherwood, aged 23, from 1st Battalion, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment was killed and five wounded by a lone gunman outside the main Mosque in the former Northern Alliance stronghold of Mazar e-Sharif. As a result of its Northerly situation it is unlikely that the Taliban were involved. The gunman attacked the soft-skinned 4x4 vehicle that the soldiers were travelling in, the vehicle was situated just a few hundred yards from the famous blue mosque. The gunman was arrested straight after the incident and has since been charged and jailed for the murder of LCpl Sherwood.
2006 Kabul incidents
On 9 August 2006, Private Leigh Reeves aged 25, from the Royal Logistic Corps, died in a road traffic accident at Camp Souter, Kabul. There was no insurgent involvement.
On 4 September 2006 Private Craig O'Donnell, aged 24, B Company of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland died in a suicide bomb attack on the Snatch Land Rover he was travelling in.
As part of Operation Enduring Freedom
March 2006
On 22 March, Corporal Mark Cridge, aged 25, from 7 Signal Regiment died in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. The Oxfordshire Coroner subsequently recorded an inquest verdict of suicide on 22 February 2007.