Corporal Darryl Gardiner, also serving with 4/73 battery Royal Artillery, but a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, aged 25 from Salisbury in Wiltshire, was taking part in an operation to disrupt enemy forces and reassure local Afghans on Sunday 20 January 2008 in southern Afghanistan, three kilometres north of Musa Qala district centre in Helmand Province. Shortly after 1530 hours local time the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a roadside mine strike. Corporal Gardiner was evacuated by helicopter to the field hospital at Camp Bastion for medical treatment but did not survive. Five other soldiers were injured in the explosion.[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/CorporalDarrylGardinerKilledInAfghanistan.htm]