Prince Charles honours Notts soldiers

By Tanya Holden

After their return from a gruelling six-month tour in Afghanistan, 80 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) have been presented with campaign medals by their Colonel-in-Chief, Prince Charles. It was a day of reflection and remembrance for their five comrades who died in Helmand Province.

FAMILIES watched proudly as the Prince of Wales presented their sons and daughters with their Afghanistan service medals yesterday.

This was the first time that the Queen's Norfolk residence, Sandringham House, was used for such a ceremony.

The 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (known as the Woofers) includes soldiers from Notts, and among those collecting medals were some of the regiment's injured troops.

The soldiers marched into the courtyard led by the Band of the Parachute Regiment, and lined up in front of Sandringham House's main entrance. They were joined by the Regimental Mascot, a ram known as Private Derby 29.

Prince Charles spent around 45 minutes chatting to the soldiers and presenting them with their medals. One of them was Private Dean Housley, 25, from Heanor, who lost his leg when a homemade bomb went off during a patrol.

He said: "Prince Charles asked how I was and said he was very proud. It made me proud to get my medal personally from him. I'll make a good recovery and will walk pretty normally again."

His dad, Paul Housley, said: "We are extremely proud and can't praise him enough."

Afterwards Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles spent time chatting with servicemen and their families at a Royal reception, held in the house's ballroom.

Read the full report here on Nottingham.co.uk

Soldier cheated death three times

A soldier was branded "one lucky idiot" by comrades for cheating death three times during a stint in Afghanistan.

Private Daniel Britton, 22, from Nantwich, Cheshire, said he is fortunate to be alive after an action-packed six-month tour in Helmand Province.

He contracted dysentery after nearly drowning in a fast-flowing river, had a bullet brush past his head in an attack by the Taliban and was shot in the chest during a separate strike.

The soldier, from The 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, had his first brush with death in April, just one month into his tour, when he was trying to cross a swollen river.

"The current became too strong. It swept my feet from under me. I'm not much of a swimmer and I was washed underneath the water. The weight of my kit made it very difficult to stay afloat. All that was going through my mind was 'I'm dying'," he said.

Private Britton's colleagues managed to pull him out, only for the soldier to be diagnosed with dysentery. And the former South Cheshire College pupil had only just recovered when the Taliban shot at his head and thought they had killed him.

"It was very early morning in the patrol base and I was sat outside cleaning my weapon. All of a sudden several bullets whizzed past my head. I yelled to everyone to 'stand to' and that began the start of a four-day contact. When I thought about it afterwards I realised how lucky I was to still to be here. I heard later that the Taliban thought they had killed a British soldier. I know that was me they were talking about," he said.

Private Britton's troubles were not over. He was within centimetres of death when the Taliban shot him in the chest, and the soldier was sure he was bleeding. But the bullet became lodged in his body armour, and the liquid on his skin turned out to be sweat.

He said: "The first I knew of the Taliban presence was when I was thrown back with massive force. It was like a sledgehammer hitting my chest. I could feel liquid on my skin and I was convinced it was blood. It could have been a different story if it had landed a few centimetres to the right. The guy who had pulled me out of the water at the start of the tour was there this time too. He told me I was 'one lucky idiot'."

Private Britton admits he was relieved to reach his 22nd birthday but, even then, as he celebrated with friends at a fancy dress party in the patrol base, the Taliban fired a series of Chinese rockets in their direction.

Soldiers return after Afghan tour - BBC

About 70 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment have flown into NI after finishing their six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The soldiers are being reunited with their families living at Palace Barracks in Holywood, County Down.

The battalion suffered five losses during their tour.

They were involved in Operation Panther's Claw and worked with the Afghan National Army in Helmand.

Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett, 29, from Devizes, Wiltshire, was killed in an explosion there earlier this month.

Major Jim Turner, the regiment's second in command, told BBC Radio Ulster they had to deal with a "very real threat from insurgents".

"Five of our soldiers have been killed in the last six months," he said

"And there have been a number of casualties, that is very much the nature of the operations going on in Afghanistan.

"When you lose someone who is a very close friend, and we are working in these very small tight-knit teams, it is a big blow every time that it happens.

"We are also keenly aware of the impact it will have at home, on our families and friends who are waiting for us and worrying about us."

This is the third tour of Afghanistan the battalion, made up of soldiers from Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, has made in the last four years.

"We've had a very challenging tour, but everyone in this battalion has a real sense of achievement," added Major Turner.

"Our soldiers have done something they should be extremely proud of.

"There is now a large proportion of the Afghan people who are no longer under the influence of the Taliban, and that's a very proud achievement for all of us."

Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett MC killed in Afghanistan

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett MC, of 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) was killed in Afghanistan on Monday 21 September 2009.

Acting Sergeant Lockett was on a dismounted patrol near Patrol Base SANDFORD in the Gereshk district of Helmand province when an explosion detonated, killing him before he could be extracted to hospital.

He was investigating and confirming the find of an Improvised Explosive Device when it exploded. Two other soldiers were injured in the same incident.

Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett MC

Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett, from Monifieth in Angus, joined 1st Battalion the Worcester and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (1 WFR) in Tidworth in 1996. The WFR became 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) in 2007.

Sergeant Lockett took part in every operational deployment and exercise the Battalion undertook; he served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland, and in 2009 he returned for his third tour of Afghanistan.

At Garmsir in 2007, as Platoon Sergeant in A (Grenadier) Company he displayed selfless commitment and unshakable bravery fighting and leading his Platoon to rescue wounded comrades trapped in a Taleban ambush. For his actions that night he received one of the nation's highest awards for gallantry, The Military Cross.

He spent the large majority of his career as a Machine Gunner but he held many other qualifications including Jungle Warfare Instructor and Military Tracking Instructor.

His deployment to Afghanistan in 2009 was as part of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team Battlegroup. He was working and operating alongside the Warriors of the Afghan National Army at Patrol Base Sandford in the Upper Gereshk Valley. His professionalism set the finest example to the Afghan Warriors. He was an inspirational leader.

Locky, as he was known to his friends, will always be remembered for his infectious laugh and prominence as a man. His leadership style was the exact mix of compassion and steel which garnered the respect of both those he led and those he served.

He was nearing the end of his tour when he died. He volunteered to stay on at his patrol base to ensure that the incoming soldiers knew as much as they could about the local area and they could reap the benefits of his vast local knowledge.

Leading men and setting an example was a familiar position for Sergeant Lockett, he died doing a job he loved and he earned the highest respect from all those who knew and worked with him. Sergeant Lockett leaves behind his children Connor (eight), Chloe (seven) and Courtney (five), family, and his girlfriend Belinda.

His Girlfriend, Belinda English, said:

"For Queen and Country."

His parents, Mal and April paid the following tribute:

"We are immensely proud of Mike - he was everything that we could ever have wanted in a son and was a devoted father to Connor, Chloe and Courtney. He was always positive, and always seemed larger than life.

"Words simply cannot express what he meant to his close and wider family and his many friends. His passing has left a huge void in all our lives that can never be filled. We can only take solace in the fact that he died doing a job that he was born to do with his 'boys' in 2 MERCIAN Regiment.

"He would want us all to celebrate his life by remembering the many good times, with a cold beer, broad smile and looking forward to the future."

Private Jason George Williams killed in Afghanistan

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Private Jason George Williams from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment was killed in Afghanistan on Saturday 8 August 2009.

Private Williams was killed following an explosion while on patrol just east of Gereshk in Helmand province on Saturday afternoon.

On the day of his death, Private Williams' platoon was securing the site of an attack which had occurred earlier that day during which three Afghan National Army Warriors were killed.

Private Jason George Williams

Private Jason Williams, aged 23 from Worcester, joined 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) [2 MERCIAN] in November 2008 after completing the Combat Infantryman's Course at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick.

He deployed to Afghanistan with A (Grenadier) Company of 2 MERCIAN on Op HERRICK 10. The company operates with The Light Dragoons Battle Group. His platoon is detached with C Squadron of The Light Dragoons working with the Danish Battle Group.

In Helmand province Private Williams' platoon has operated from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Keenan at Zumbelay in the Upper Gereshk Valley. The platoon plays a crucial role providing security to the local population, enabling the reconstruction and redevelopment of the area.

Private Williams played his part to the full, deploying daily on routine security patrols and taking part in many deliberate offensive operations to rout insurgents operating in the local area. These operations were carried out with the threat of improvised explosive devices and ambushes ever present.

Private Williams and his platoon patrolled and fought alongside a platoon of Warriors of the Afghan National Army (ANA) who share the FOB. It was commonplace that they would be fighting side-by-side in their joint efforts to build the ANA's fighting capability and provide security to the people. They fought as brothers and as equals.

On the day of his death, Private Williams' platoon was securing the site of an attack which had occurred earlier that day during which three ANA Warriors were killed. One of the three ANA dead could not be found and Private Williams' platoon was securing the area in order to prevent insurgents seizing his corpse. During this security operation Private Williams initiated an improvised explosive device and was killed.

Private Williams' family said in a statement:

"Jason was a loving and caring son and brother. The Army gave him a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for life which stretched beyond the boundaries of his work. We are so proud of Jason and we will miss him every day."

The hidden danger waiting to strike

by Deborah Linton

AS he picks over the rubble with his fingers, Warrant Officer 2 Bobby Gardner is inches from death.

Lying on his front and carrying 100lb of equipment on his back, he dusts away the sand, patiently and carefully uncovering the enemy-laid booby trap.

Casualties

The Stockport soldier is among the hundreds of brave frontline troops playing a 'game of chess' with the Taliban, risking their lives each day searching Helmand's desert with metal detectors and their fingertips for improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The homemade Taliban bombs, responsible for the majority of this month's casualties among British forces, can be made from the simplest of household items.

'Scary'

Sgt Maj Gardner, 40, from Cheadle Heath, talks somberly about the countless near misses he has experienced. He said: "It's scary. There's been a Taliban pressing the button to detonate as we've found it and we've walked away unhurt. It's down to good drills but mostly it's down to good fortune that more haven't been killed.

"When the detector finds something and you get down on the ground to dig your first instinct is to panic but you have to compose yourself. "Sometimes we find none, sometimes we find ten a day and if it takes you three hours to sweep an area then so be it - this is soldiers' lives on the line. They're putting them in new places all the time, where you'd never expect them."

Explosives

The trigger could be contained in a cook pot in an Afghan home, an empty water bottle or hidden underneath a lads' mag. Once activated, it could set off up to 20 kilograms of explosives. Taliban forces are constantly developing new methods for bomb making in a bid to outsmart the coalition. Every soldier in the British army learns how to sweep for explosives.

Sgt Maj Gardner is serving with 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment. The unit has lost two men during the current tour - one shot in the chest while clearing an Afghan compound, the other in an explosion. Mercian troops have been deploying in eight-man teams living and working on the ground alongside the Afghan National Army (ANA), training them in the drills that will save the lives of them and their civilians. Sgt Maj Gardner has been training 120 ANA troop in Garmsir, in southern Helmand.

'Invincible'

"Most of them come from the north of the country," he told us. "A lot of them do it because they've had family killed by the Taliban and they're still killing their animals, children. They say Afghanistan was a better place to live before and they want that back. When we're involved in firefights, they're good fighters but their methods are poor. They think they're invincible. Their officers pretty much tell them everything. They've not got the initiative of British soldiers yet."

Commitment

Many of the young men joining Afghanistan's growing national army have grown up in the same schools and villages as the brutal enemy they are fighting. While they chose to fight to protect their country, boys who were once comrades in the school playground are being recruited into a life of insurgency by the Taliban. In Helmand, the Afghan prime minister has ordered that 1,000 warriors be trained up by coalition forces. Across the country, there is a commitment to shape a 134,000 strong national force.

'Brutal'

NA company commander Maj Shawanli told us: "Day by day our soldiers are developing. Everyday when we're going on a mission sometimes we are finding a mine. We find a lot of IEDs. The Taliban are brutal people. They don't want the women to go to school and the girls to go to school. This is our way to develop our soldiers so our country can develop." Sgt Mazamil, 22, from Jalalabad - a northern border town to Pakistan - has been in the ANA for two years. "I wanted to join. It was my target to come here" he said through an interpreter. "The Taliban came to destroy our country - roads, buildings, schools, hospitals also. I wanted to make a difference to my country."

Soldier shot - but he takes it on the chin

A lucky soldier has lived to tell the tale after being shot in the face by the Taliban.

Private David 'Dunc' Duncan, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment , who is currently serving with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, was deployed in the Panjab region of Helmand province when he was shot as insurgents ambushed his patrol.

His patrol became aware that the Taliban were planning an attack on them as they worked their way through villages, talking to the locals and gauging their attitude towards coalition forces.

Soon after hearing the reports the insurgents opened fire on the patrol, using small arms, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades; Pte Duncan, swung his Jackal around so the vehicle commander and gunner could return fire.

The Taliban were well hidden in compound walls and a network of tunnels making it difficult for the British soldiers to locate them.

So, in order to direct the machine gunners' fire more accurately Pte Duncan stood up in the driver's seat and used laser range-finders to measure the distance to a possible firing position.

As he switched from range-finders to binoculars, he saw an insurgent firing a machine gun in their direction. Pte Duncan quickly began describing the location to the Jackal's gunner but as he turned to look through the binoculars a second time, he was hit in the face by a bullet:

"My head just whipped round to the side," he said.

"It felt like I'd been kicked in the face by an invisible horse. I immediately dropped down to the footwell and put my hands to my face. All I could see was blood."

Pte Duncan kicked the door of the vehicle open and dropped to the ground behind the vehicle where he could check out his injury properly:

"I was really scared. I thought I'd lost my jaw. I tried calling to the medic - but no sound came out."

The team medic was in another vehicle 80 metres away when he became aware that Pte Duncan had been hit. Assuming the worst, he rushed to his friend's side to administer first aid. But that in itself was unnerving for Pte Duncan:

"When I saw the medic reach for his trauma kit I got really worried."

The medic washed out the wound and assessed it before applying a field dressing to stem the blood flow. Despite his injuries, Pte Duncan, while still under enemy fire, climbed back into the Jackal and instructed a colleague how to drive the vehicle out of harm's way.

Once the patrol had extracted itself, Pte Duncan saw that two bullets had struck some of their equipment next to his head and the third had hit him. The bullet had penetrated his helmet's chinstrap, entered his chin and exited through his cheek, fracturing his jaw and dislodging teeth as it passed through.

Pte Duncan was airlifted to the field hospital at Camp Bastion where his jaw was x-rayed and his wounds cleaned and stitched. He then phoned his parents Margaret and Jim in Mansfield:

"My dad just laughed, I was always getting into scrapes as a kid, but nothing like this," he joked.

"I am so lucky."

Angel of Operation Panther's Claw

Brave squaddie fought at the very heart of Operation Panther’s Claw

Standing just five feet tall, Private Kerry Smith is one of the smallest soldiers in the British Army, but the challenges she has faced over the last three weeks have been enormous.

24-year-old combat medic Kerry has been at the very heart of Operation Panchai Palang or Panther’s Claw, the British military operation to clear one of the last remaining Taliban strongholds in Helmand Province.

In sweltering temperatures often topping 50 degrees, Kerry accompanied soldiers from The 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment into fierce fighting through a rabbit warren of mud compounds and across rugged terrain, as they tackled Taliban fighters at every turn.

Despite her small stature, Pte Smith has been in the thick of it, holding her own with the men of 2 Mercian, who’ve been involved in some of the toughest fighting yet seen in Afghanistan.

“The first few days of Operation Panchai Palang were the hardest. We were coming under fire all day and were suffering lots of casualties from IEDs and RPGs. It was certainly very hard work.”

Kerry, who is from Dunscroft near Doncaster, spent 28 weeks learning her life saving skills before she deployed to Afghanistan and her experiences on Operation Panchai Palang. Her job as one of two combat medics looking after 35 soldiers in the field has seen her provide life-saving treatment to some of the most badly wounded soldiers in the moments immediately after injury.

“Before I came here I’d never done this for real; only in training. Since I’ve been in Afghanistan I’ve dealt with shrapnel wounds, missing limbs, head injuries and shock. I’d never seen anything like this before and, if I’m honest, I thought I’d freeze. But I didn’t. I just got stuck in and my training took over.”

With a Bergen not much smaller than Kerry herself, she showed extreme levels of fitness, sticking by the unit through thick and thin and providing medical treatment to those that really needed it.

“To be honest one of the most difficult things for me has been carrying all the kit; it’s so heavy! My pack weighs about 20kg and then I have my body armour and weapon to carry too. All together it’s almost as big as me,” she said laughing.

Treating her comrades has proved challenging for Kerry, but they have not been her only patients. Whilst on patrol recently Kerry had her first experience of treating a local Afghan female from a compound they’d just liberated from insurgents.

“The other soldiers cleared the route ahead so that I could get to the patient’s home safely. The threat of IEDs is always around. Because I was a female medic, the men of the village were OK with me treating the women.”

After treating the woman for a throat infection, the patrol were soon on their way again. Kerry said: It was an interesting experience. There’s such a lot of variety in this job. At the end of the day we are here to deal with any medical issues. Anyway that I can help, I will.

“This tour has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’ve grown much more confident over the past few months. It’s very rewarding.”

Operation Panchai Palang began on 19th June 2009, with an air assault along a canal north of Lashkar Gah. The Light Dragoons Battlegroup, which two companies of 2 Mercian are attached to, have been responsible for sweeping across the Babiji area, clearing towns and villages and securing them prior to the Presidential and Provincial elections next month.

Taliban were firing at me and I just thought of my little girl, says Army's only female Jackal driver - Daily Mail

The only British woman soldier driving combat vehicles on patrol in Afghanistan has told how thinking of her daughter got her through the terror of an ambush.

Staff Sergeant Claire Griffiths, 33, was driving a Jackal armoured patrol vehicle guarding a supply convoy when rocket-propelled grenades exploded just yards away from her.

She said: 'We came under small-arms fire from several directions. As we forced our way through the hail of bullets, the insurgents began to fire RPGs at us.

"My heart was thumping with the adrenaline. All I could think about was my three-year-old daughter back home.'

Little Nicole is being looked after by her father, Sergeant Simon Griffiths, at the family's home in Wantage, Oxfordshire, while her mother completes her six-month tour in Afghanistan, for which she volunteered.

S/Sgt Griffith's patrol managed to escape the ambush in Helmand province with the help of covering fire from another coalition patrol.

They then worked through the night, filling up sandbags until 1am the following morning.

After just a few hours' sleep, the patrol set off again, leaving the checkpoint just as dawn broke on May 16.

As they reached an Afghan National Police (ANP) checkpoint, officers rushed out to warn them that the Taliban had just planted an improvised explosive device ahead on the road, which was not much wider than the Jackal itself.

The bomb exploded before troops had time to make it safe.

'It was a massive explosion but thankfully no one was injured,' said S/Sgt Griffiths, who has previously served in Iraq, Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Bosnia.

'After the explosion my survival instincts kicked in and I just began to laugh. I guess it was nervous laughter. The device could have killed any one of us.'

Warned that the enemy was planning to fire on their position, the patrol moved away quickly, cutting a new route through the desert.

S/Sgt Griffiths added: 'We always knew... that we would eventually come under some sort of contact but it was the not knowing when, where or how.

'That patrol was our first real test and we know it won't be our last within Helmand.'

S/Sgt Griffiths, who is originally from Fulham, South-West London, is part of 31 Close Support Squadron based in Abingdon, Oxford.

She is half-way through her tour, attached to the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment - there to provide 'mentoring' to the Afghan National Army by taking part in joint patrols and operations.

'I'm really enjoying my time here. It's exciting and a bit of an adventure every day,' she said.

'Our role is vital to make sure supplies continue to reach the people who really need them, so it's rewarding work.'

Private Robert Laws killed in Afghanistan

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lance Corporal David Dennis from The Light Dragoons and Private Robert Laws from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment were killed in Afghanistan on 4 July 2009.

Both soldiers died in separate incidents, while taking part in Operation PANCHAI PALANG, an operation involving around 3,000 soldiers, to improve security in the area north of Lashkar Gah, clear the Babaji and Malgir areas of insurgents and restore government control before the National elections.

Lance Corporal Dennis was killed by a contact explosion from an Improvised Explosive Device whilst on foot. Private Laws was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

Private Robert Laws, 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment

Private Robert Laws, aged 18, joined 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) during Op HERRICK 10. His basic training started at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate, which prepares young men for the rigours of the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick. After completing the Combat Infantryman's Course in March of this year he passed off the square at Catterick and deployed to Helmand Province to join B Company.

Known to friends as Robbie, Private Laws was killed alongside his mates in B Company while they were operating under command of the Light Dragoons Battlegroup during Operation PANCHAI PALANG.

Private Laws, from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, was a popular member of his platoon during training and achieved 'Best Shot' on the Light Machine Gun. When Robbie arrived at 2 MERCIAN he quickly became known for his mischievous sense of humour and a cheeky wit which endeared him well to his Platoon Sergeant.

To undertake basic training and be on the frontline in Afghanistan within a year is a tremendous undertaking, especially for someone who is 18 years old. Private Laws rose to this challenge by embracing all the best qualities of being a soldier: ability to adapt and learn; strength of character; determination.

Private Laws' family issued the following statement:

"The parents and close family are immensely proud of their popular and loving son. They would like to thank all their friends for their loving support at this very difficult time."

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Banton, Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), said:

"Robbie only joined 2 MERCIAN (Worcesters and Foresters) a very short time ago but had already begun to make his mark. He was excited and eager to deploy to Afghanistan and this only a few days after his 18th birthday.

"He was a warm and cheerful young man who mucked in when there was work to be done and quickly made friends. Robbie's falling has taken a good soldier from us; a man who was not afraid to move forward, endure hardship and he had the courage to fight the enemy alongside his brothers.

"Robbie died alongside his mates in B Company, 2 MERCIAN, and his death has rocked them - they will hold him in their hearts as they fight on. The entire Regiment's prayers are with Robbie's family who are devastated by his loss."

Soldier free-wheels his Land Rover into action

A soldier in a broken down vehicle was so desperate to help his colleagues in a battle with the Taliban – he pushed his vehicle down a hill and rolled into the fight.

Sergeant Andrew McNulty (pictured) was in a heavily-armed Land Rover which had broken down when the Taliban attacked his convoy as it went over a hill.

Seemingly stranded, Sgt McNulty knew his comrades needed his help and his firepower so he asked an officer to tow him to the brow of the hill, then he and his colleagues pushed themselves over, and they rolled a kilometre down into the battle.

Sgt McNulty, 29, from Churchill, said: “When I appraised the situation I realised that I needed to get the weapons systems into the battle. The crew of the vehicle helped me give it a push and we then climbed aboard; we rolled about a kilometre into the fire-fight.

“I did not really concern myself with how we would get the vehicle out of the contact area at the bottom of the hill, my colleagues were already there and we needed to support them.”

Sgt McNulty, known to all as ‘Mac’, is a soldier with 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), based in Holywood, County Down, in the middle of a six month tour of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

He is the platoon sergeant, the second in command, of Ava Platoon, based at Camp Bastion, a 30-strong team which provides protection for the huge resupply convoys, conducted by 19 Light Brigade Combat Service Support Battalion.

Shattered in the shadow of death: The Mail joins our troops on their biggest ever assault against the Taliban

By Richard Pendlebury and Jamie Wiseman
Last updated at 1:50 AM on 04th July 2009

This week the most senior British officer to die in combat since the Falklands War was killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated under his armoured vehicle.

Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe MBE, CO of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards died in Helmand province alongside 18-year-old Trooper Joshua Hammond of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, bringing the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 171.

At the moment that the deaths were announced, Mail writer Richard Pendlebury and photographer Jamie Wiseman were embedded in Helmand with British troops taking part in Operation Panther's Claw - the largest British ground offensive against the Afghan insurgents so far.

Here, they paint a hauntingly graphic picture of the discomfort and privations endured by our troops in an increasingly bloody field of conflict.

Here in 'Afghan', as the soldiers call it, Britain's 'heatwave' is viewed with detached amusement.

After all, the desert afternoon temperature is well above 40 degrees centigrade; the sun seems to leech the blue from a cloudless sky.

Hydration is vital, but problematic. With a sardonic 'just add some Typhoo...', a soldier hands out bottles of drinking water from a stack of thousands sitting in the open on the baked rock.

His quip is no exaggeration; the water's temperature would not shame a pot of afternoon tea.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth recently made a whistlestop visit to Helmand. One of his aides made the crass mistake of complaining about the heat.

This invited a heartfelt put-down from a nearby soldier: 'OK, next time you lot want to invade a country choose one that's ****ing cooler.'

When no task needs addressing, the hours drag in a heat-induced lethargy. Some men shelter in their tents or the shadow of their vehicles; if there is enough clearance, others doze underneath them.

One young soldier sits, eyes closed, shirtless and drenched in sweat, cranking a clockwork radio. Through the static comes the voice of a BBC commentator at Wimbledon describing 'a lovely forehand from Venus Williams'.

Applause from the Centre Court wafts across the airwaves, competing with the crackle of small arms fire from a makeshift range. While Britain pins its hopes on Andy Murray, the soldiers here are preparing for D-Day.

At daybreak, some 700 men of the Light Dragoons Battle Group, to which the men of B Company, 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) are attached, are about to launch the main thrust of Operation Panchai Palang - Panther's Claw - the largest British ground offensive against Afghan insurgents.

The push began two weeks ago when the Black Watch were airlifted into an area a few kilometres south of here, near Babaji. Battle Group Centre South, led by the Welsh Guards, then moved by vehicle to link up with the Scots.

This week, Mail photographer Jamie Wiseman and I have been with the Mercians as they spearhead the final phase of Panther's Claw. No coalition unit has ventured through this area in almost two years. As a result, the Taliban have had control over a rural population of some 50,000 people.

The local tribespeople are apparently anxious for their hegemony to end. But as many as 250 insurgent fighters now believed to be operating in the green zone between the Nahr-e-Burgha canal and the Helmand River will have to be killed or defeated.

Considerable airpower and concentrations of armour have been brought to bear. But it has fallen to the Mercians to lead the ground assault.

B Company is led by Major Stewart Hill. Before the operation begins, he asks his assembled soldiers: 'Is it to be the insurgents' summer or will it belong to us? Of course, it's going to be ours.'

Forward Operating Base Price is in the desert a few kilometres south west of Gereshk. Usually, it is manned by a Danish battle group.

Earlier this week it was also the temporary home of the men of the Light Dragoons Battle Group, which includes the 2nd Mercians and their attached support units.

Dawn on Wednesday saw the first ground moves of the operation.

The Danish battle group moved out of FOB Price, led by three Leopard main battle tanks.

Theirs was a diversionary operation, to probe the Taliban and conceal the place at which the first British troops would cross the canal, 48 hours later.

To give them credit, the Taliban did not hesitate to engage the approaching heavy armour with small arms fire from across the canal.

From the base, we could hear the tanks returning the compliment, sending rounds of high explosive into the insurgent positions, which quickly fell silent. The pace of preparation was quickening.

Inside the base, the battle group vehicle park was beginning to fill with tonnes of shimmering armour of every kind.

By Wednesday evening, 75 fighting vehicles were lined up in four columns abreast. As the sun set beyond them, the fighting along the canal flared up again. Two Apache helicopters circled overhead, firing onto positions in the green zone. There was a large explosion.

The soldiers got another reminder of what lay ahead for them; the 'Ops Minimise' command had just been announced on the base Tannoy.

A few hours earlier, Lieutenant Colonel Thorneloe and Trooper Joshua Hammond had been killed some kilometres to the south.

No one on the base could phone home until the casualties' families had been informed. Next to the guard tent, the Union flag flew at half-mast.

Thursday, 6am. An almost silent camp stirred beneath a gentle sun as sparrows contested scraps of food. And yet it was only a brief interlude of calm between hours of heavy firing along the nearby canal.

Artillery, airstrikes and small arms hammered away at the Taliban positions inside the green zone, as British light tanks and Danish troops pushed across the canal.

For their part, the insurgents could be heard replying with rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire. It gave cause for sombre reflection; in less than 24 hours we, along with 6 Platoon of B Company, 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment, would be stepping across the canal into the thick of it.

At 8am, came the battle group briefing. One of the Danes had been seriously wounded by a landmine in a compound beside the canal. The Taliban leadership intended to ban the use of mobile phones by civilians in Helmand; anybody found with one would be considered a Nato's International Security Assistance Force spy.

Two hours later, every man of the Light Dragoons Battle Group was packed into the cookhouse tent to hear their CO, Lt. Col. Gus Fair, address them. Lt. Col. Fair had invited me to be present on the condition that I did not report his words - which is a pity because his speech was moving and inspirational.

Some men sat at his feet and others craned at the back to hear every word. A minute's silence was then observed for Lt. Col. Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond.

Padre James McWhirter stepped forward with a prayer: 'Be with us Almighty God as we go forth into battle...' He finished by calling down a blessing on the soldiers before him, quiet, sombre, perspiring.

'Amen,' came their loud response. The cookhouse began to empty.

The battle group was now prepared physically, mentally and spiritually for what would come at first light.

The Taliban knew we were coming. It was no secret. It's very hard to hide the build-up of so many men and vehicles.

And so yesterday morning the initial battle group thrust ran into a dense network of Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs.

IEDs have become the scourge of the British forces in Helmand. Thirty-three servicemen have lost their lives here as a result since the year began. That is more than the total for the whole of 2008.

But it has taken the death of so senior an officer as Lt. Col. Thorneloe to once again bring home to the public back in Britain the danger the soldiers are facing on a daily basis.

Early in the day, a light armoured vehicle was flipped on its side by an explosion. Then A Company of 2 Mercians were slowed immediately by the presence of mines, trip wires and other devices which all need to be cleared.

Fifty were discovered in the first phase. But not all of them in time.

In mid-afternoon the news came through that a Danish tracked recovery vehicle had struck yet another IED farther up the canal. Casualties unknown. Meanwhile, B Company made itself as comfortable as possible on the north bank, waiting for the signal to move.

For the moment, caution is the byword. The Taliban are increasingly outnumbered and lack the sophisticated weaponry of the Coalition forces. But a shovel, a detonator and a few kilogrammes of explosive continue to wreak a toll on our forces here.

VIDEO: Troops launch Taliban offensive - BBC

More than 700 UK troops have launched a major offensive against insurgent strongholds in southern Afghanistan.

The soldiers from the Light Dragoons and 2 Mercian are taking part in the third wave of Operation Panther's Claw, which began two weeks ago in Helmand.

The BBC's Ian Pannell is embedded with British soldiers in Helmand Province.

Worcestershire's Mercians on the front line in Afghanistan

Small, austere bases in the heart of Taliban territory have become home to dozens of Worcestershire soldiers as they continue to fight Afghanistan’s enemy.

Mud huts surrounded by make-shift reinforced walls are what our boys call home for six months.

They cook up ration packs on small stoves and try to make the forward operating base as homely as possible.

From these bases soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) carry out daily foot patrols of the area and defend their perimeter walls from Taliban attack.

They never know where the elusive enemy will be or what traps have been laid overnight.

Twenty-five-year-old Captain James Mackenzie, of Claines, Worcester, described the living conditions at Camp Argyll which is home to a handful of Mercians and Afghan National Army soldiers.

“We are living in an old school, in a classroom,” said the former Bishop Perowne High School and Worcester Sixth Form student.

“Bed space is cramped, you have one hanging shelf if you have brought it with you.

“We eat rations day in day out. Occasionally we get fresh food sent down. That and the welfare packages are the only break from rations we get.

“We have put posters and pictures up and we have made our own barbecue out of an oil drum.”

A generator provides enough electricity to power their radios and equipment and sometimes a television.

Our boys shower out of jerry cans and solar showers and shave in buckets of cold water. Temperatures in Afghanistan’s Helmand province are pushing into the 40s and will continue to rise over the coming months.

In this heat soldiers must wear heavy Osprey body armour and packs weighing up to 20kg.

The desert winds whip up a fine, powdery dust, which covers the Mercians and all their kit.

Mail drops full of letters and parcels from friends and family back home are one of the only things to break the daily ordeal for these men and women on the front line.

Once a month the soldiers will get supplies dropped into them by the logistics corps. This will include everything from bottled water and rations to ammunition, equipment and mail.

Every now and again the Mercians will pass through Camp Tombstone, a small base close to Camp Bastion.

This is the regiment’s nerve centre and a quiet oasis in the middle of the desert. Here they can get a hot shower, eat in the cookhouse and even sunbathe around the camp pool.

Eventually though, they return, either by helicopter or vehicle convoy, to the austere camps where they continue to fight the Taliban day in day out.

Soldier's mum asks shoppers to put treats in baskets for troops abroad

THE mother of a Derby soldier is urging shoppers to donate items such as deodorant, wet wipes, toothpaste and even tennis balls and Frisbees to send to troops serving in Afghanistan.

Paula Taylor has organised for a collection bin to be placed by the checkouts at the Somerfield store where she works in Bishop's Drive, Oakwood.

And in just over a week, generous shoppers have put in packets of biscuits, toiletries, soft drinks and sweets.

Mrs Taylor will send these to her son, Private Brendan Ogden, who is fighting in Helmand Province with the 2nd Mercian Battalion (Worcesters and Foresters).

He will share the goodies out between his colleagues.

Mrs Taylor, of Oakwood, says it will boost morale among the soldiers.

She came up with the idea for the collection after speaking with a colleague.

The go-ahead was given by store manager Stuart Humphris, whose nephew Ian Humphris is also fighting in the war-torn country.

Mother-of-six Mrs Taylor, 44, said: "I just felt I wanted to do something for those out there fighting.

"It is hard enough being the mum of a soldier, with the worry about what they are doing out there, so I wanted to do something to help.

"When Brendan found out, I think he was a bit embarrassed at first but he did ask for things like tennis balls and Frisbees – things to keep them amused."

Pte Ogden has been with the Woofers since he was 17.

The current six-month tour is his second in Afghanistan.

He is part of the AVA platoon, which provides protection for convoys of food and water being taken to remote army out-posts in the searing heat of Helmand Province.

During his last tour in Afghanistan, in 2006, he celebrated his 18th birthday.

On April 17 this year, he was there once again – this time for his 21st birthday.

Mrs Taylor said: "That's two landmark birthdays he's had and both times he's been in Afghanistan.

"I hear from him about once a fortnight but he calls his girlfriend more often, so I get to hear he's OK.

"Organising this has helped me try and keep my mind off what he is doing out there."

Mrs Taylor's five other children are Gemma Day, 25, Sadie Longdon, 18, Dayle Taylor, 17, Savanna Taylor, 16, and Pte Ogden's twin brother, Matthew.

Store manager Stuart Humphris, 49, said he was more than happy to help the troops.

He said: "I think it is important we show those men out there that people back home are thinking about them and the work they are doing."

Speaking on behalf of the regiment, Major Jez Jerome said it was good to see so much support for the troops.

He said: "I'm very happy to see the continuing support for the battalion, both from those who have friends and relatives out there, but especially from those people who are not directly connected to serving soldiers."

2 MERCIAN step up the fight against the Taliban

The fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan has stepped up a gear after Operation ZAFAR successfully forced a retreat of Taliban fighters from several villages near Lashkar Gah.

Under the watchful eye of 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (2 MERCIAN), hundreds of members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police deployed on the operation which saw two days of continuous fighting.

Two Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLT), each formed of ten soldiers from 2 MERCIAN, accompanied the Afghan Warriors while Gurkhas supported the Police.

During the week-long Op ZAFAR, many Taliban insurgents are known to have been killed, while the ANA and 2 MERCIAN troops sustained only a handful of casualties, none of which were serious.

Op ZAFAR succeeded in pushing the Taliban out of several villages in the area of Basharan near to the provincial capital of Helmand, Lashkar Gah, and by the end of the week groups of UK stabilisation teams were conducting meetings with the local elders who have been under the shadow of the Taliban for some time.

The teams offered a range of ways to help the villagers, from refurbishing schools to improving healthcare provision.

The operation was co-ordinated on the ground by the 2 MERCIAN Battle Group headquarters and, in total, 35 soldiers from the battalion were involved in the operation at all levels up to and including the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Banton.

Lt Col Banton said:

"Alongside the MERCIAN soldiers, the Warriors of the Afghan Army proved to be seasoned fighters and fought hard to provide security in this part of their own country. Under the careful guidance of the Gurkhas, the policemen reassured the local people.

"Following these operations, meetings known as shuras were held involving local elders, religious teachers and leaders, where the Afghan Forces outlined plans for future security and reconstruction."

Captain Sam Boudet-Fenouillet of 2 MERCIAN said:

"The enemy provided a determined resistance and were not willing to give up the area without a fight - fighting lasted for 48 hours. During one particularly fierce three-hour phase, all elements of the force were in combat and as gunfire crackled through the air, air strikes and artillery bombardments were called in to support our troops.

"The first two days saw the most fighting, but the enemy were outmatched and soon withdrew."

The operation also saw Royal Engineers build a permanent base for the ANA, to ensure future security in the area, called Checkpoint Worcester. Within only 30 hours, the Engineers had secured and fortified an area the size of two football pitches.

One of the OMLTs was led by Captain Rob Agnew, whose role was Fire Support Group, which involves overseeing the use of artillery, aircraft and helicopters for the commanding officer.

Captain Agnew's team, equipped with armed Land Rovers, Javelin missiles and mortars, was sitting in reserve when another team led a raid on a compound to secure a holding area but as they were progressing an armoured vehicle struck a mine. The team was called in to lead the ANA troops to the holding area and while doing so were shot at:

"We were stranded on a single track in our vehicles and our training tells us to drive through while returning fire which we did," said Capt Agnew. "One of my corporals said at the time: 'they were bloody close'.

"Once through we were able to stop in a side ride out of sight for some relative safety."

2 MERCIAN has been in Afghanistan for approximately six weeks and their major role is to mentor and train the ANA to improve their ability to fight the insurgents on their own.

Lt Col Banton said:

"This operation was another example of the progress being made by the Afghanistan National Army. They proved to be flexible, committed and brave. On more than one occasion it was touch and go as the enemy fought hard but the Afghan Warriors did not retreat.

"You can be assured that the MERCIAN soldiers fought hard and were absolutely indomitable. They are fine successors to many thousands of infantrymen who have joined and fought with regiments raised in Nottingham, Derbyshire and Worcestershire for the last 300 years.

"This was the largest operation that 2 MERCIAN has been involved in since we took over and I am very proud of my soldiers."

This is the battalion's third tour of Afghanistan in five years; they deployed as the OMLT Battle Group on 27 March 2009 for a six-month operational tour which will see them return to their base in Belfast in late September 2009.

Nottingham soldiers fight Taliban

SOLDIERS from Notts have helped push the Taliban out of one of their last strongholds in Helmand.

Last week the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police fought the Taliban in the Basharan area.

Two teams of ten men from the 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, accompanied more than 150 warriors from the Afghan National Army (ANA).

The 2 Mercian has been in Afghanistan for around six weeks and their main role is to mentor and train the Afghan army to improve their ability to fight the insurgents on their own.

The operation was coordinated on the ground by the 2 Mercian Battlegroup headquarters.

During the week-long operation several Taliban insurgents were killed but the ANA and 2 Mercian only sustained a handful of casualties, none of which were serious.

The operation pushed the Taliban out of several villages near to the provincial capital of Helmand, Lashkar Gah.

Corporal Mathew Gilmour, from Nottingham, was on guard on the roof of a compound one night when he came under fire.

He and his colleagues, Corporal Bret Taylor, from Derby, and Capt Agnew, returned fire.
A forces spokesman said: "This was another example of the progress being made."

Colour Sergeant Mike Saunders, 2 MERCIAN, blogs from Helmand - Part 7

A WORCESTER soldier fighting in Afghanistan is proving to be a big hit with punters after he started sending blogs from the frontline back to his local pub.

Helmandblog first reported on the story on the 19 April and many readers asked where they could find the blog. After his sister Tracey posted a comment on Helmandblog I asked if she would let me have the updates - and she said yes. So as they come in I will keep you up to date.

Greetings friends and readers at the Marwood, Worcester!

So far you have heard much of the travel and strife it takes just to get to this country, we have covered the general history of the conflict and how we got to be here. What we have not covered is the other darker part and perhaps the only major part that we cannot control and that is our enemy.

Dismiss from your head the brave Mujahedeen or “holy warriors”, riding bravely in to battle on horseback, if they ever did exist they have been replaced by a ruthless cunning enemy more than capable and willing to use torture, intimidation and terror tactics and that is just on their own people.

In the main the higher levels or “full time enemy” have been raised and converted to an ideal that is as fanatical as it is dangerous. These high level operators are often the means by which the disaffected or poor are converted or paid to carry out attacks against our forces. It is sadly often the case that those who are on the front line are those who have little other recourse in life and even more sadly for some death may be the only escape from a life spent serving a pitiless master.

That said on there is no shortage of home grown enemies more than willing to test the resolve of the “foreign invaders” these individuals will exploit any perceived weakness or opportunity and will attack with impunity regardless of any risk of collateral damage.

Fundamentally opposed to any influence from the western world the insurgent force use guerrilla attack strategies to inflict as many casualties on the coalition forces as possible and will use the innocent local populace to do this. Often the enemy will initiate an attack and before they can be pinned down and dealt with they will drop any weapons and melt back into the crowd thus evading justice for their actions.

In our own dealings with the enemy in most cases we are the very opposite, we plan our deliberate operations with the greatest concern for innocent human life and our use of force is proportionate to the situation faced.

The way in which we engage with our enemy is of no surprise, history has shown us that a numerically superior force with overwhelming advantage of technology and sheer firepower will always force an enemy to ground and make him use guerrilla tactics. In a matter of minutes an individual insurgent can find himself under bombardment from an array of weapons hitherto unseen on any field of conflict.

Often I struggle to understand how we cannot find the cure for basic illnesses yet a man can sit in a different country “flying” an unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle passing real time information to other machines that will engage the target in real time!

The fact that the enemy is outgunned does not dissuade the insurgents from attacking us, quite the opposite in fact. The end result is the enemy attacks us is two different ways, Firstly is the traditional force on force engagement where he will set up an ambush of sorts, waiting until a friendly forces patrol turns up and then attack very briefly but with all the force he can muster.

Secondly and more devastating he will employ various improvised explosive devices (IED’s) to attack us often without the need to be present and thus not risk death or capture. Improvised explosive devices are now a constant reality of life here and for the enemy they potentially fulfil a number of criteria.

Firstly when executed correctly the result as painfully evident from the news is fatal but the effects go beyond this. The proliferation of IED’s creates unavoidable fear for both friendly forces and the local populace and they can have the effect of restricting movement.

The use of IED’s is a classic guerrilla tactic, it is relatively cheap and easy to deploy and is much less manpower intensive. In addition the indigenous Afghan is a master of invention and improvisation as can be witnessed if you ever see an Afghan repairing anything from a sewing machine to a car.

For our part we are able to combat the majority of this threat, in the main through good training and preparation and as a response we use the traditional type of engagement to test the enemies resolve in open combat. In summary we have an enemy that has been forced into a corner by sheer combat power and the application of military discipline and who has had to resort to other methods to try and stem the flow of his losses.

Another unavoidable truth of battle is that despite all the technology, the bombs, missiles and aircraft, it is the Infantryman with the sharp point of his bayonet that is the only true way to capture and hold ground. This is why we, your soldiers of the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment have deployed and that is why many of my colleagues find themselves exposed to the realities of conflict up close and personal on a daily basis.

For myself I live in relative comfort only miles from those for whom the words sacrifice, combat and true courage are not abstract concepts but rather the only way to survive in what sometimes can be a harsh, unforgiving land. Despite being here so close to those of whom I speak my thoughts go out to those who sit in the dark looking out across disputed territory knowing that somewhere close men are plotting their demise.

In the next instalment I will begin to relate some of the realities of combat here and will use examples from this tour and our previous tour to show you the sacrifices YOUR soldiers are making on your behalf.

Until the stay safe and be good to one another.

Soldier’s blogs are a big hit with regulars

A WORCESTER soldier fighting in Afghanistan is proving to be a big hit with punters after he started sending blogs from the frontline back to his local pub.

Almost as soon as Colour Sergeant Michael Saunders landed in the dusty deserts and humidity of Helmand Province, the 35-year-old former Nunnery Wood High School pupil began writing to his sister, Tracey Tyrls.

The chef and waitress took them into the Marwood, The Tything, and they have proved so popular that a wall has now been dedicated to printouts of the blogs that describe the daily life of the soldier, who is serving with the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) on their third tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Mrs Tyrls said: “Michael loves to write and it’s a great way for him to keep us up-to-date with what he’s doing in Afghanistan. I find it reassuring to get letters from him regularly.

“It’s a bonus that it’s proved so popular and regulars have been following his progress with interest. With 2 Mercian deployed in a really challenging role out there, there are lots of soldiers from Worcestershire in the thick of it.

“I think it’s good for people to realise that although thousands of miles away, what’s going on in Afghanistan affects the people of Worcester more than they might think.”

We previously reported in your Worcester News how the Mercians have been charged with passing on their skills to the Afghan National Army and conducting joint patrols around the province.

C/Sgt Saunders’ job as platoon quartermaster sergeant for the combat infantry signals platoon means that he is responsible for the distribution of communication gear to 21 locations in Afghanistan.

C/Sgt Saunders, who has a three-year-old daughter, hopes his letters from the desert will help people to understand what the Army is doing in the country and what daily life there is really like.

Soldier is wounded in Taliban firefight - Evening Telegraph

A SOLDIER from a Derbyshire regiment has been wounded following a firefight with the Taliban in Afghanistan

He was shot in the arm when troops from the 2nd Mercian Battalion came under attack while escorting a convoy of lorries taking supplies to British soldiers in remote outposts of Helmand Province.

Major Jez Jerome, who is co-ordinating information from the battalion's headquarters in Belfast, said: "We have only had one soldier suffer minor injuries so far after receiving a gunshot wound to the arm.

"But he rallied his men around and continued fighting using his weapon with one arm.

"He is the only member of the battalion to have suffered any injury at all, which is great news

Meanwhile, the last wave of Derbyshire soldiers to be deployed to Afghanistan will fly out on Saturday.

About 100 members of B Company of the 2nd Mercian Battalion will head to Helmand Province to join about 300 comrades already stationed there.

B Company will provide infantry support to the Light Dragoons in Southern Helmand, along with soldiers from A Company.

The remaining soldiers will be working in operational, Mentoring and Liaison Teams.

This will see small teams of British soldiers working with and alongside the Afghan National Army for the duration of the six-month tour.

Major Jerome said: "B Company fly out on Saturday and, apart from the rear party, that's the whole battalion deployed."