AUDIO: Rifleman Walton reflects on a hard summer tour of Helmand

Rifleman Robert Walton from Douglas in the Isle of Man is 19 years old and serving with 4 Rifles.

He has been deployed as part of 19 Light Brigade and has spent five months here in Helmand during some of the most intense fighting since the British arrived here.

The Rifles is the largest infantry regiment in the British Army and trace their values and heritage back to the Peninsular War and the time portrayed in the TV series Sharpe. Then, as today, independence of thought and action were prized amongst the specialist soldiers equipped with rifles who were known as Riflemen.

AUDIO: UK Army chief's 'shopping list'- BBC

The head of the British Army has said he will present the government with what he describes as a shopping list of essentials for British forces serving in Afghanistan.

The chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, was speaking to the BBC on a final visit to troops in Afghanistan before he stands down next month.

Sir Richard said more technical support was needed in order to "be able to see what the Taliban are doing".