Fallen soldier was 'Top Dog' hero

A HERO soldier killed in Afghanistan yesterday has been named as 20-year-old Rifleman Sheldon Steel.

The trooper, who died in an explosion in Helmand province, recently nabbed the coveted title "Top Dog" for winning a contest in his battalion.

Commanding Officer Lt Col Tom Copinger-Symes said: "Rifleman Steel was the essence of a 'Delta Dog', as the members of D Company 5 Rifles are known.

"As a club within a club, the Delta Dogs have a particularly special identity in our Battalion and Rifleman Steel was immensely proud of that identity.

"And so he should have been, because he was, and will remain until next year, the 'Top Dog' — which is to say the winner of D Company's annual competition to find their best Rifleman.     More Read