Many of those serving come from loyal Forces communities

Communities and families living in the midst of military barracks across the UK have been grieving the loss of service personnel who gave their lives in the line of duty.

On Tuesday two members of a UK tank crew were killed by so-called "friendly fire" in battles outside Basra.

Two infantry soldiers have died as a result of Iraqi fire, while 16 others perished in non-combative deaths - either by "friendly fire" or through accident.

I don't feel angry I just feel numb Jeremy Clarke, father of soldier killed in friendly fire

Two soldiers from the Queen's Royal Lancers - part of the First Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Battle Group - are the most recent victims who died as a result of "friendly fire".

Corporal Stephen John Allbutt and Trooper David Jeffrey Clarke were travelling in their Challenger II tank on the outskirts of Basra on Tuesday when a fellow British tank mistakenly opened fire on them.

Corporal Allbutt, 35, a married father-of-two from Stoke-on-Trent, was a veteran of the Gulf War and had seen action in operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Both he and 19-year-old David Clarke, from Littleworth, Staffordshire, were from the Queen's Royal Lancers, part of the 1st Royal Regiment of Fusiliers battle group.

Barry Stephen died in southern Iraq

Trooper Clarke's fianc�e Miss Furniss, of Great Haywood, Stafford, said the couple had met seven years ago and planned to marry next year.

"In his letters he wrote: 'If anything happens remember I love you and all the family'," she said.

His father, Jeremy Clarke, 41, said on Wednesday he had still not taken in the circumstances of his eldest child's death.

"I don't feel angry I just feel numb," he said.

The two soldiers were mistakenly fired upon by crew members from the Black Watch battle group fired, who were battling pockets of Iraqi soldiers outside the southern city of Basra. It was pitch dark at the time.

Scottish battalion the Black Watch has already suffered its own loss with the death of Lance Corporal Barry Stephen from Perth, who died while trying to repel an attack on his armoured personnel carrier near al-Zubayr in the south of Iraq.

He joined the famous 1st Battalion The Black Watch in 1997 - described as "a marvellous regiment" - which recruits from Perthshire, Angus and Fife.

'Doing the job he loved'

He had seen service in Northern Ireland, Germany and the UK and was part of the mortar platoon.

"I know he was very proud to be a soldier and to wear the Red Hackle," said the lance corporal's close friend and comrade, Sergeant Mark Hudson.

"He was a wonderful husband and son as well as a great friend," he added.

His family should take comfort from the fact that he died "a hero, doing the job he loved".

The Black Watch - normally based in Germany - has a special place in the hearts of Perthshire families.

When Lance Corporal Stephen's death was announced the Saltire was flown at half mast at the regimental museum at Balhousie Castle.

Visitors have been calling to pay their respects, with some leaving flowers.

Jean Spence, 72, spoke of the sadness people had been feeling.

'Unique'

"The Black Watch is a huge part of this area and people here are very proud of the regiment."

The first British combat fatality - Sergeant Steve "Buddy" Roberts, a long-serving tank regiment soldier - had already made known his determination to serve long before the war began.

Lance Corporal Llywelyn Evans was one of two brothers in the Gulf

Speaking during a late-night debate on Radio Leeds, the 33-year-old Cornishman, took issue with those criticising the war.

His wife, who carried on his radio debating role after he left for the Gulf, described her husband as "unique and irreplaceable".

"He was adamant that he was doing the right thing and doing it both for the people back home and the Iraqi people," she said.

Sgt Roberts was killed after being shot by a sniper, while soldiers calmed a civilian riot near al-Zubayr. He died in hospital on Monday.

'Dedication'

The parents of Flight Lieutenant David Rhys Williams have been coming to terms with the loss of their son - an RAF navigator who died when his Tornado aircraft was shot down by an American missile in the early hours of Sunday.

Rhys and Pat Williams, who live in Crickhowell in Powys, Wales, said their son - a father-of-two - had always wanted to fly, and died doing the job he loved.

Together with pilot Flight Lieutenant Kevin Barry Main, who was also killed, he served with the 9 Squadron, RAF Marham.

Two soldiers from the Queen's Royal Lancers died on Tuesday Click for more on the Queen's Royal Lancers Click for full list of lost UK forces

Speaking of the two airman, Wing Commander Mike Oldham, from RAF Marham in Norfolk, said: "They were returning from one of many successful and professionally conducted missions in Iraq, and I would like to pay tribute to their expertise and dedication."

The Welsh community has also been mourning the death of 24-year-old Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans, who was among 12 British and American servicemen who died in a helicopter crash as they were being transported in Kuwait, close to the Iraq border.

His younger brother Lee, serving in the Royal Artillery and also fighting in the Gulf has been given permission to return home to Llandudno in north Wales to be with their family.

Farming family

Llywelyn Evans was serving in the 29 Commando Royal Artillery attached to 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines.

The Sea Knight helicopter crash which killed him happened less than 24 hours into the war. Eight Royal Marines and four US servicemen were killed when the craft crashed over the Kuwaiti desert.

Among them was Captain Philip Guy, 29, from Plymouth-based 3 Commando Brigade, whose wife is expecting a baby in two months.

He came from a farming family in the Yorkshire Dales, joining the Royal Marines after graduating from Salford University in 1995.

He served in Bosnia and Afghanistan, as well as in the Gulf, where he had been stationed for the past six weeks.