Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 2009, Acting Corporal Richard 'Robbo' Robinson, from 1st Battalion The Rifles, died as a result of enemy fire during an ambush north of Sangin District Centre. He had been on a patrol to dominate ground with his Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team and the Afghan National Army platoon.

Acting Corporal Robinson had enlisted in the army in 2003, completing the Combat Infantryman’s course in 2005 when he was posted to ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment. He served in Iraq in 2006 and completed his PJNCO Cadre in 2007. Promoted to Lance Corporal in 2007, he was posted to the Reconnaissance Platoon of ‘S’ Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles, and soon completed the Sniper course in 2008. He joined ‘E’ Company, 1 RIFLES, in April 2008 as a Sniper, Mentor, and Section Second-in-Command. He then deployed to Afghanistan on Op Herrick 9 at the end of September.

Acting Corporal Robinson is remembered as a quiet and discerning character, who combined a calm approach to his everyday tasks with a robust and strong work ethic. Acting Serjeant Simon Lake, Second-in-Command OMLT 7, said: "Corporal Robinson, AKA Robbo, joined the Devon and Dorsets in March 2004 where he was moved into my room - he was only 17. Robbo was such a cool-minded guy and an excellent soldier. We went to Iraq together and were then placed together in the same team for this Afghanistan tour where he brought so much experience being Recce and Sniper qualified. He made my job so much easier; when I needed something doing Robbo was always ready and would have it squared away within minutes. It was a great honour to serve with such a great Rifleman, a legend in my eyes. But it was also a great honour to be his friend, a close friend, someone who I will never forget. It is a great loss to me."

Robbo, from Saltash in Cornwall, was 21 years old.