IT has been another tragic week for the British armed forces.

Two more soldiers were killed in Iraq yesterday and a serviceman killed separately in the country on Tuesday was named yesterday as Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard.

Hardly a week goes by without more deaths being reported. So far in 2007, there have been 41 fatalities among British forces in Iraq, with 168 UK personnel killed in Iraq since the war began.

Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners turned out yesterday to pay their respects to much-loved North-East Royal Marine Barry Keen, who died during a rocket attack in Afghanistan.

Of course, those who join the armed forces understand the dangers they face when they sign up to serve their country, but every death is a reminder of the special kind of courage which is required.

And Wednesday night's helicopter crash near Catterick Garrison, in which two people died and ten were injured, shows that the dangers are not restricted to actual service in war zones. The intensive preparations required for going into conflict can also be extremely hazardous.

Our thoughts are once again with the members of the armed forces who are facing these kind of dangers every day of their working lives.

And they are also with the families who must live with the knowledge that their loved ones are performing heroic jobs in desperately difficult circumstances.