A Dunfermline marine has suffered “terrible injuries” in an Afghan blast which killed two of his comrades.
Lance Corporal James Chalmers was badly injured after being caught in the explosion which took the lives of his 42 Commando colleagues Lieutenant Oliver Augustin and Marine Samuel Alexander, who had previously been award the Military Cross, last Friday.
The two men were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on patrol in the Loy Mandeh area of the Nad-e Ali district in Helmand province.
Now it has emerged the young Fife marine, whose father is a leading figure in the Church of Scotland, was also caught up in the tragedy.
The 23-year-old Fifer, who is known as JJ, was brought back to the UK for emergency treatment.
He is now receiving medical care in Selly Oak Military Hospital, near Birmingham, where his family, including his father, the Rev John Chalmers, are at his bedside.
The Right Rev David Arnott, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said, JJ “seems to be improving every day” but had received terrible injuries.’Magnificent’ Selly Oak”We are all in awe of the magnificent work being carried out by the medical staff at the hospital in Birmingham,” he added.
The Moderator, a close friend of the family, said, “It was with shock and dismay that we discovered that JJ Chalmers was injured on duty in the Helmand area of Afghanistan on Friday while serving with 42 Commando.
“His father John is the principal clerk of the Church of Scotland and we had just completed a very busy and exhausting week at the General Assembly when the news came through.
“John, his wife, his other son and daughter and JJ’s girlfriend are down at the hospital in Birmingham where he is being treated.
“As well as a colleague, John and his family are close friends and we have been in constant contact with him.”
He added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with JJ and his family at this most difficult time and also with those families of the two young men who died in the explosion and the others who were injured.”