THE families of two Colchester-based soldiers killed in Afghanistan have been honoured for their sacrifice.

Captains Jim Philippson and Alex Eida, both of 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, were killed in Afghanistan in 2006.

As part of yesterday’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations, the families were presented with Elizabeth Crosses after the service held at the Cenotaph in London.

The award was introduced this year to honour the families of soldiers killed on operations.

Capt Philippson’s brother, David Philippson, said it had been painful to be reminded of his brother’s death.

He said: “However, it is comforting our brother’s regiment is still involved with the family and to know the nation wants to mark our loss.”

The family are to give the medal to Capt Philippson’s school, St Columba’s College in St Alban’s, which has named an Army Cadet building in his honour.

Mr Philippson said: “It’s too soon for us to think about wearing and displaying the medal ourselves.

“We feel it is important the younger generation should be made aware and appreciate the sacrifices made by our soldiers.”

Cpt Philippson and Cpt Eida, both aged 29, were among six soldiers killed as Colchester’s 16 Air Assault Brigade made the first probes in to lawless Helmand province in 2006.

More than 200 British soldiers have been killed since, including 11 when the town’s troops returned last summer.

PM, WITHDRAW OUR TROOPS NOW

THE sister of a Colchester-based paratrooper killed in Iraq has directly challenged the Prime Minister to pull British soldiers out of Afghanistan.

Father-of-one Private Lee Ellis was killed by a roadside bomb while serving with 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, in February 2006.

The 23-year-old’s sister Karla Ellis called on Gordon Brown to “bring them home” during a debate organised by a local radio station in Manchester, where the Ellis family live.

She said: “How many of our under-equipped soldiers have to die before the powers that be do the right thing, instead of trying to save face, and bring them home?”

Mr Brown replied he wanted British troops to return from Afghanistan, and said the “way we can do it is to train up the Afghans themselves”.

He said: “What we are facing in Afghanistan is an insurgency. It is guerrilla warfare. The strategy is to get the Afghans to take more responsibility for their own government.”

He accepted the recent election in Afghanistan had been “less than perfect” but said the country needed stronger security forces.

But Ms Ellis countered that “you can’t trust these people” after the killing of five British soldiers on Tuesday by an Afghan policeman they were training.