LAST POST

LAST POST

The 3 main fighting regiments are now home from Afghanistan and held their home coming parades:

1. Grenadier Guards
2. Anglian Regiment
3. Mercian Regiment

The Mercians' parade took place today, I was able to get there and cheer the Lads on!!

This is the last post :) from me and this Blog will not be receive any more news items. I have followed the British Army (in Afghanistan) news items for 6 months and as such will continue to post news items but not to this Blog, which was specifically for my Son. For those who will click here for the new Blog.

So its goodbye from me and goodbye from him!!

THE END

Thousands welcome Mercian troops

Thousands welcome Mercian troops

Thousands lined the streets to greet the soldiers Thousands of people have lined the streets of Nottingham to welcome home troops from the Mercian Regiment who have returned from duty in Afghanistan. About 350 soldiers from the regiment's 2nd Battalion marched through the city after returning from a six-month tour. Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Simon Banton said: "The boys take a huge amount from it. All they crave is recognition for their efforts." The 2nd Battalion lost nine men during their tour of Afghanistan. Private Jamie Grocock, 25, from Nottingham, said: "It was a great turn-out. It touches you when you hear people clapping. It makes you feel proud. "Out there in Afghanistan you don't think you get a lot of respect but coming here shows people appreciate what we are doing." 'Welcome parade' Private Iain Melrose, 28, said: "What has happened is that with the loss of people, it brings it home to people back here what we go through." Major Paul Gilby had earlier called for soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq to be given a "hero's welcome" by the people of Nottinghamshire. A service was held at St Mary's Church in Nottingham "This is not an act of remembrance, we're having that next week in Westminster Abbey," said Major Gilby. "This is a welcome home parade but they [the nine men] are always with us. "Every time there's a Last Post or a minute's silence, they are forever at the forefront of your mind, particularly the guys, the friends you've lost." The troops - who have freedom of the city - marched with bayonets fixed and their colours flying. After the parade and a church service, the regiment took part in a civic reception at the Council House in Nottingham which saw 12 Nottinghamshire soldiers presented with their Operation Herrick campaign medals. Three historic regiments merged as part of the British Army's infantry restructuring plans to make the new Mercian regiment in August. The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment, the Staffordshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters combined to become the Mercian Regiment.

ROSS V TALIBAN

ROSS V TALIBAN

EXCLUSIVE EastEnders tough-guy joins British troops in war-torn Afghanistan Kemp admits: 'I fear for my life' as TV chiefs insure him for £1million

 

TV HARDMAN Ross Kemp has joined British troops fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The former EastEnders star is spending four weeks on operations with the infantry in the lawless Helmand Province to film a documentary aimed at boosting recruitment figures.

Kemp, whose dad was in the Army, has already undergone a gruelling training programme and has learned how to fire a weapon.

He headed off with the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment and a small film crew early last week after picking up a BAFTA award for his latest TV series, Ross Kemp On Gangs.

The 42-year-old actor, who played tough guy Grant Mitchell in the BBC1 soap, has been overheard telling friends he was scared of being shot and has been insured by programme-makers Tiger Aspect for £1million.

One pal said: "He told us it had been really difficult to get insurance because they're going to the frontline and the bosses at Tiger were very worried about something happening out there.

"For the four weeks they're going to be at great risk and Ross said he and the crew were very nervous. He made a point of saying goodbye to everyone he could. He also joked there was one bit of him they weren't able to insure - his private parts. But he wouldn't say why."

Kemp and his team of two cameramen, a sound man and producer have been training with the regiment - nicknamed the Vikings - since the start of the year. They took part in military exercises on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire wearing heavy backpacks, firing live ammunition and learning to fend for themselves.

The crew is being given unprecedented access by the Royal Anglian Regiment in the hope the programme can help the Army boost recruitment, with 2,500 posts unfilled and numbers at their lowest since the Napoleonic Wars.

After playing an SAS sergeant in TV drama Ultimate Force - and with his father formerly in The Royal Norfolk Regiment - Kemp was keen to investigate life in the Army today.

The documentary aims to show how 21st Century soldiers fight the Taliban, survive in extreme conditions and try to win the hearts and minds of locals.

An insider said: "The MoD are bending over backwards to help. They really hope the programme will present the Army in a good light and attract more recruits.

"A lot of filming's been done already and the MoD gets a big say on what stays in the final cut.

"The trouble is, one scene he's insisting has to stay shows some of the lads having to use their own money to buy kit on eBay. It's not great PR but the top brass hope it will be overshadowed by some Boys' Own stuff from the front."

Last year 14,000 recruits left the Army and only 12,000 joined, despite the recruitment age limit being raised from 26 to 33.

The Army has also had to recruit from abroad, with one in 10 British soldiers now a foreign national.

The four-part series, called Ross Kemp On Afghanistan, will be shown in the autumn. (Author's note) watch out for this at the end of Nov possibly on Sky (if you know the time and channel pls post a comment.)

Grenadier Guard Thanks Observer Readers

Lee Hastings now back from Afghanistan

Thanks for the letters, parcels and support.

That's the message from 24 year old Lee Hastings of the Grenadier Guards on returning home after months fighting in Afghanistan.

While he was out there, attached to The Anglians Regiment based in Helmand Province, he appealed through the Observer for readers to write to him and his comrades.

His mother Angela, of Salisbury Road, this week called to say: "He wants to say thank you to everybody that supported him by sending out parcels and letters which he and all his friends appreciated."
Lee is now back in Aldershott after spending seven months in Afghanistan.

"He is obviously glad to be home, glad to be back, but he misses his friends in The Anglians, and is just happy to have done some good out there."

Angela added: "It is a relief...you almost feel guilty that you want them back, but you are no longer listening to the radio or watching the television all the time and getting so anxious. But obviously bad things are happening - I don't think people realise because you only hear about the people that die, you don't hear about the people who are injured over there."

She is hoping to see Lee in a Sky One film about Ross Kemp in Afghanistan with The Anglians, expected to be broadcast at the end of November.

> Blog Author's Son Returns Home.

My Son Returns Home.

It's been a long haul for the Grenadier Guards and the lads of Somme Company in Afghanistan and a long wait for the families to see their loved ones return home safely, but we all have finally got there. The Somme Company (and my son) arrived in the UK on Friday 12^th October and had their medal and final parade in London on Sunday 14^th October. The parade was well attended by the soldier's families but less attended by the general public. (see previous article.)

Author's Son receiving medal from the Lord Mayor of London

ISAF campaign medal

Blog Author and Son

During the time Somme Coy have been in Helmand 30 soldiers have been killed in action. One of them, 'Daryl Hickey' was with Somme Coy and a friend of my son. It is hard to rejoice in a victory parade when so many good men have been lost and the ground that was taken during the fighting with the Taliban will be re-taken by the Taliban! Was it worth it? – I can not answer that! what I can say, the troops committed to this conflict have not been properly resourced, the number of troops were far too low to wage an effective campaign and dislodge the Taliban for good and the ANA are still far to weak to hold the ground taken. I can only conclude that this is 'political' 'to be seen to be doing something' but the reality is NATO countries are not willing to committee to an effective strategy with troop numbers and money to get the job done.

Never the less, we can not take away from our soldiers the courage, fortitude and bravery they demonstrate whist rising to the challenges asked of them by the Politicians. So let's not forget these lads and let's offer up, from our hearts, prayers for the families who have lost loved ones in the campaign. 'We pray that God will ease the pain of their loss and bring to their minds fond memories, will give then hope of the life to come and the knowledge that, for those who believe, will see their loved ones again, once this earthly journey is at its end. For certainty we all pass to life eternal.'

Thank you to all those who sent emails of support and encouragement to the Author of this Blog. This chapter in my (and my Son's) live is now over. Lets all look forward to the day when the Afghanistan conflict is over for everyone not least the Afghan people!!

Links to Parade news reports:

MoD

London parade for returning UK troops

By Lewis Hannam

Last Updated: 1:38am BST 15/10/2007

Families rejoiced on Sunday as more than 140 homecoming British troops were given a heroes' welcome.

After six months of combat in Afghanistan, Somme Company, of the London Regiment, paraded through the City of London.

Public homecomings have become a rare sight in recent years, a fact bemoaned recently by the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt.

Last month he complained that too many local councils were snubbing returning troops, a criticism backed by a Daily Telegraph campaign calling for more returning parades.

Major Giles Morgan, an officer with the London Regiment, said: "The parade was absolutely brilliant. It was the first time families had seen their loved ones for a long time so it was a very proud moment."

The parade was hosted by the City of London Corporation, the local authority for London's financial district, the Square Mile. It included full time troops, Territorial Army soldiers, regular reservists and 26 Grenadier Guards.

Last month a Daily Telegraph survey revealed almost none of the thousands of British soldiers returning from war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan this autumn will be welcomed with a homecoming parade.

Out of the 16 councils contacted - all in areas with strong military links - only two were aware of plans for a parade.

Close to 13,000 troops are set to return from arduous and bloody six-month tours by November.

> Heroes' welcome as soldiers return

Heroes' welcome as soldiers return

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Reunited: L/Cpl Alan Cain and his children Jonathan and Selene at the ceremony in Central London

Troops serving in Afghanistan were given a heroes' welcome when they returned home yesterday.

More than 700 people crowded into the Guildhall in Central London to see 140 members of Somme Company take part in a medal parade.

Local authorities across the country have been criticised for not organising official welcome parades for the units returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

But the City of London was delighted with the response to yesterday's event, as members of the public joined friends and family of the London Regiment in welcoming home relatives they had not seen for three months.

Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, head of the Army, said last month that soldiers' morale was suffering because they were returning from active service to an 'indifferent' public who did not seem to appreciate their efforts.

His call for 'welcome home' parades for 13,000 servicemen and women returning this month and next from Afghanistan and Iraq was later backed by all the major political parties.

The Lord Mayor of the City of London, John Stuttard, said troops deserved 'wide recognition' for their 'sacrifice and dedication'.

Maj Giles Morgan, from the London Regiment, said: 'The event was simply brilliant – we really couldn't have asked for better.'

And L/Cpl Tony Field had special cause to celebrate – he used the occasion to propose to girlfriend Amelia Arditti, who readily accepted.

SOLDIERS PARADE

SALUTE OUR TROOPS

14/10/2007

Related Articles

The first TA soldiers to fight on the Afghan frontline are to march through Central London today.

The men, from the Somme Company, the London Regiment, will be honoured at a parade through the City and a reception at the Guildhall.

There they will meet friends and family - and will remember Guardsman Daryl Hickey, 27, who was killed in battle alongside them in July.

The 100 TA soldiers have just returned from a six-month tour of duty in Helmand Province, where they were involved in intense close-quarter fighting with the Taliban.

Forces on parade will also include regular troops and Army and RAF reservists.

They are due to form up on Noble Street and march down Gresham Street at 11.45am before parading at the City o f London Guildhall at noon for 40 minutes.

> Muslim soldier's death 'unlawful'

Muslim soldier's death 'unlawful'

A verdict of unlawful killing has been recorded on the first British Muslim soldier to be killed during the conflict in Afghanistan.

L/Cpl Jabron Hashmi, 24, of Bordesley Green, Birmingham, died during a rocket attack on a building on 1 July 2006, an inquest at Oxford Coroners Court heard.

The same verdict was also recorded on his colleague,

Cpl Peter Thorpe, 27, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Coroner Andrew Walker said the attack was "nothing short of murder".

Less severe

A Chinese-made rocket blasted through a wall on an observation post in Sangin, Helmand Province, as a compound came under fire from Taleban fighters.

It exploded inside, showering soldiers with shrapnel.

The hearing was told the pair, who were both serving with the Intelligence Corps, had direct orders to be wearing body armour, but neither had it on when the rocket hit.

Mr Walker, assistant deputy coroner for Oxfordshire, said it highlighted "failings in the chain of command".

He said if Cpl Thorpe had been wearing protective clothing his injury might have been less severe.

But the inquest heard that such clothing would not have saved L/Cpl Hashmi.

Maj William Pike admitted the fact they were not wearing body armour was a failure, but said there was also "individual responsibility" on the soldiers to ensure they wore it.

Maj Pike said when darkness fell Cpl Thorpe and L/Cpl Hashmi were in an outbuilding which also had soldiers on the roof.

An interpreter was also killed almost instantly in the incident.

The inquest heard that both soldiers were part of a 150 strong force which had been involved in fierce fighting with the Taleban in the days leading up to the fatal attack.

Forensic pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt said L/Cpl Hashmi died from a shrapnel wound to the neck. Cpl Thorpe died from a projectile wound to the chest.

Pakistani born L/Cpl Hashmi had been in the army since 2004 and was posted to the Royal Signals in January 2006.

Military parachutist

His brother Zeeshan and three sisters said in a statement at the time of his death: "Our brother was proud of his role as a serving soldier and looked forward to his deployment to Afghanistan.

"He felt privileged to represent the Army as a Muslim British Pakistani who wanted to use his background and position to contribute at a time where there exists a lack of understanding of cultures, ideologies and religious identities."

L/Cpl Hashmi's sisters accompanied their mother at the inquest on Thursday.

Cpl Thorpe joined the army in August 1995 and had already served on tours in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. He was also a qualified military parachutist.

> Paras to lead spring offensive in Afg...

Paras to lead spring offensive in Afghanistan

Richard Norton-Taylor
Saturday October 6, 2007
The Guardian

The whole of one of the army's most elite regiments, supported by the RAF's latest fighter bombers, is to be sent to Afghanistan in a military operation unprecedented since the second world war.

For the first time since 1945, all three regular battalions of the Parachute Regiment - about 2,000 troops - will be deployed for combat. The Eurofighter/Typhoon, equipped with new missiles for a ground attack role, will be deployed for the first time in a hostile mission.

New Merlin helicopters from an RAF squadron formed this week will also be sent to the region.

The plan, being drawn up by the chiefs of staff, reflects the government's concern over the failure to win a decisive victory against the Taliban. Tomorrow marks the sixth anniversary of the first American and British missile strikes on Afghanistan in retaliation for the 9/11 attacks on the US, yet Nato-led forces are no closer to beating the Taliban, Nato commanders believe.

The Ministry of Defence said yesterday that a British officer from the Gurkha Rifles was killed, and two soldiers from the regiment injured, in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on Thursday. It is the first death of a member of the Gurkhas there. The soldiers were hit 19 miles from the Nato airbase at Kandahar and airlifted to the main British base at Camp Bastion.

The soldier's death takes the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001 to 82.

The decision by the heads of all three branches of the armed forces to deploy so much manpower and weaponry to southern Afghanistan also reflects their conviction, shared by ministers, that unlike Iraq, Afghanistan is on the frontline of the fight against international terrorism and that the conflict there is a "noble cause".

Under the plan, the Parachute Regiment will be sent to Helmand as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade next spring. Its deployment is expected to coincide with a further cut, perhaps of 1,500, in British troops in Basra which Gordon Brown is likely to refer to in his Commons statement on Iraq on Monday.

The prime minister is expected to set out the future role of British troops after they hand over to local forces responsibility for overall security of Basra province before the end of the year. During his flying visit to Baghdad this week, he announced that troops there would be cut to 4,500 by Christmas. There are about 5,250 there now and 7,700 in Afghanistan.

Reductions in the number of troops in Iraq will free up soldiers for deployment in Afghanistan at a time when the army is increasingly stretched, with commanders worried about the effect on service families and the resignation of experienced non-commissioned officers.

While Britain prepares to increase its military commitment to Afghanistan, senior Nato commanders are making it clear they are increasingly concerned about the restrictions -"caveats" - on the operations and movements that some countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, impose on their forces in Afghanistan. "Restrictions on operations are having profound consequences," said one Nato commander. He added: "It is very insidious and significant at every level." Nato is faced with the prospect of the first ground combat operation in its 58-year history collapsing in failure. Senior alliance officials describe Afghanistan as "Nato's number one priority".

"No one in Afghanistan is safe," according to a senior military figure. US-led coalition forces and Afghan troops clashed with insurgents during a raid in eastern Afghanistan yesterday, leaving several militants and civilians, including a woman and a child, dead.

Matt Waldman, Oxfam's head of policy in Kabul, told the Guardian: "The truth is that the international community was distracted by Iraq, with terrible consequences for Afghanistan. The urgent priority is to remove the conditions of desperate poverty in which extremism can thrive."

Des Browne, the defence secretary, told a fringe meeting at the Labour party conference last week that the Taliban would have to be involved in a peace process "because they are not going away any more than I suspect Hamas are going away from Palestine". Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, this week repeated his offer of talks with the Taliban only to be met with the response that US and foreign troops would first have to agree to leave.

> Soldiers return from Afghanistan

Soldiers return from Afghanistan

The new regiment is based in Staffordshire

Ninety-six soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) are expected to arrive home.

The troops are flying back to the Midlands in a move which marks the beginning of the new regiment's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The troops will be without nine of their colleagues who died in action.

Major Bob Prophet, the Regimental Secretary, said it will be a time for reflection for the soldiers.

The soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan in May.

Major Prophet said each of the nine deaths had "hit the whole battalion extremely hard".

"But without wishing to be callous, they have to get on with the job," he said.

Regiments merged

He added: "They will undoubtedly grieve much more when they are back and they have time to think about it, but while they are in Afghanistan - no they get on with the job."

Three historic regiments merged as part of the British Army's infantry restructuring plans to make the new Mercian regiment in August.

The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment, the Staffordshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters combined as the Mercian Regiment.

The new regiment's headquarters are at Whittington Barracks, Staffordshire.

A total of 82 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001.

> Dead UK Afghanistan soldier named

Dead UK Afghanistan soldier named

Major Alexis Roberts was killed in Afghanistan

A British soldier killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan has been named as Maj Alexis Roberts.

The soldier, serving with the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, was returning to Kandahar Airfield on Thursday when the blast happened.

Maj Roberts, 32, lived in Kent with his wife and two daughters.

Prince William said he was "deeply saddened" at the death of Maj Roberts, his platoon commander at Sandhurst, whom he described as "a good friend".

"At this time, his thoughts and prayers are with Lex's wife, Susie, their two young daughters, Alice and Freya, and with all his family and friends," a statement issued by Clarence House added.

The death has taken the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001 to 82.

It is the first death in the conflict of a soldier serving with the Gurkhas.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "I was greatly saddened by the news of Major Roberts' tragic death.

"He was an extremely experienced officer and who was, quite obviously, held in high regard by his superiors, peers and those who worked for him.

"My heart goes out to his family and friends as they come to terms with their loss."

The British Army has lost one of its finest prospects and the nation has lost a dedicated servant Lt Col Jonny Bourne MBE

Maj Roberts was usually an Officer of 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, although he had been serving in Afghanistan with The 1st Battalion when he was killed.

Maj Roberts, and two soldiers who were injured, were taking part in an operation in nearby Helmand Province when they were hit.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Bourne MBE, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, paid tribute to the soldier.

He said: "In Major Lex Roberts, both battalions of the Royal Gurkha Rifles have lost a dear friend and a treasured officer.

"The British Army has lost one of its finest prospects and the nation has lost a dedicated servant, a demonstrably warm-hearted man of profound integrity and courage - quite simply, a very special human being."

> Gurkha Battalion joins ANA and ISAF

Gurkha Battalion joins ANA and ISAF effort in Upper Gereshk Valley

27 Sep 07

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles are currently taking part in a Task Force offensive involving 2,500 troops in decisive operations in Helmand Province, their first major operation since their arrival in Afghanistan earlier this month.

Gurkha soldiers pictured in the 'Green Zone' during Operation Palk Wahel
[Picture: MOD]

In this offensive, codenamed 'Palk Wahel' or 'Sledgehammer Hit', the Gurkhas, alongside other British Forces from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Afghan National Security Forces, are driving the Taliban from key areas in the Upper Gereshk Valley.

Normally based in Serai, Brunei, the Gurkhas form part of ISAF's Regional Command (South) Battlegroup and are serving in Afghanistan on a six month operational tour. This is the first time the Gurkhas have deployed from Brunei as a formed Battalion, although the unit has been involved in operations elsewhere to varying levels, including Iraq, Sierra Leone and the Balkans.

The Gurkhas, who have a reputation as fearsome warriors, are ideally suited to the operating environment in Afghanistan which in some ways is similar to the mountains and plains of Nepal. In addition, their experience of operating in the Bruneian jungle meant that the soldiers arriving in Afghanistan were able to acclimatise quickly and prepare themselves for the tasks ahead.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Bourne, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, said:

"We are really pleased to be conducting our first operation so soon after our arrival in theatre. Operation Palk Wahel is protecting areas within Helmand Province where gains have previously been made against the Taliban and pushing them further out. We have been given the task of clearing down into the Upper Gereshk Valley from the north east.

"Initially we met stiff resistance but this was soon overcome. We are now conducting patrols throughout the area and the local people are beginning to return.

"Initially we met stiff resistance but this was soon overcome. We are now conducting patrols throughout the area and the local people are beginning to return."

Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Bourne

"We have an important job to do in providing the enduring security conditions required to enable the Afghan Government to remove Taliban influence from communities in the Upper Gereshk Valley and to allow reconstruction and development projects to flourish.
 
"The Gurkhas have a natural advantage here. They have an affinity with the people here. It's in that interaction with the people where we want to make a real difference."

As well as Task Force Helmand, the Gurkhas will be working with three other Task Forces across the Regional Command (South) area.

ISAF's key objective is to create the enduring security conditions to extend Taliban free areas, enabling the influence and control of Afghanistan's democratically elected Government to spread up the Upper Gereshk Valley, allowing vital reconstruction and development projects to take place. Previous phases of the Operation saw activity conducted across the Upper Gereshk and Sangin Valleys as well as in Garmsir and Now Zad.

One of the many weapons the Gurkhas have at their disposal is the Kukri, a weapon they have used for centuries which is considered more deadly than a gun when used in close proximity fighting. The Kukri is made of metal, the heavier the better, and is adorned with a handle made from wood or animal horn.

A Gurkha soldier ready for action
[Picture: MOD]

From The Sunday Times

September 30, 2007

Biggest blitz by paras since WW2 to crush Taliban

Michael Smith and Louise Armitstead

BRITAIN is to deploy its biggest contingent of paratroopers and special forces since the second world war in a bid to crush the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Ministers are to send 3,000 paratroopers, including the entire Parachute Regiment, to southern Afghanistan in the spring, as well as trebling the number of special forces in the country.

It will be the first time in the regiment's history that all four para battalions, including its reservists, have fought together on the same battlefield. The number of UK special forces personnel will rise to more than 800 and will include the bulk of the Special Forces Support Group, which is largely comprised of paratroopers.

The deployment comes amid fears that the Taliban are likely to regroup over the winter and retake terrain from weaker Afghan forces unable to hold their positions.

It has also emerged that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is considering ways in which private security companies could bolster frontline troops in war zones such as Afghanistan. Options include "defensive" tasks such as guarding military bases, helping to escort convoys, supplying frontline soldiers and transporting troops.

Gordon Brown is expected to signal a renewed emphasis on Afghanistan next week when he announces that local forces have officially taken control of southern Iraq. The number of UK troops in the country is expected to be cut from the current 5,000, freeing resources for deployment in Afghanistan.

Brown is expected to commit British troops to Helmand province until at least 2010, although senior officers privately expect to be there much longer. "The aim is for special forces to target the Taliban before they cause problems, while the paras provide security for reconstruction to get going in earnest," one officer said.

The plan will see the current force of 7,000 British troops return from Afghanistan and a total of 8,000 sent out, bringing together the army's most battle-hardened elite. Officers admit that, with 81 killed and more than 250 wounded, the Taliban have provided some of the fiercest resistance seen since the Korean war.

UK special forces will also concentrate for the first time solely on southern Helmand and will be expected not only to target the Taliban but also the drug barons funding them. The RAF will increase the number of aircraft in the country, adding Tornado and Typhoon ground attack planes to its existing Harrier squadrons.

A group of high-level civil servants has been set up to investigate the possibility of hiring private contractors to perform defensive duties in warzones. The group, which is being lead by Peter January of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and includes high-ranking officials from the MoD and the Department for International Development, has been consulting experts from the private sector for some months.

Andy Bearpark, director-general of the British Association of Private Security Companies, said he was in "constant contact" with both the MoD and the Foreign Office over what postconflict resolution work its members could carry out.

"The British military is getting more stretched, and so it makes sense to explore ways of utilising the skills of private security companies," he said.

Read Mick Smith's defence blog

> HOMECOMING SOLDIERS ARE REUNITED WITH...

HOMECOMING SOLDIERS ARE REUNITED WITH LOVED ONES

BY MARTIN NAYLOR
MNAYLOR@DERBYTELEGRAPH.CO.UK

09:30 - 26 September 2007

Scenes of celebration and relief greeted the first Derbyshire soldiers to arrive home last night from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

They were among 111 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards returning to their base in Aldershot.

Families and friends greeted them with banners and balloons.

Husbands were reunited with wives, mothers with sons and children with fathers at the Hampshire barracks.

One soldier from the 351-year-old regiment was 28-year-old Lance Corporal Tim Leatherland, from Alfreton.

Afghanistan was his fifth overseas tour of duty. He has also served in Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Iraq.

He said: "Even though I am relatively experienced I can honestly say that I have never done a tour like that.

"The fighting was incredibly intense and we were dealing with a determined enemy."

The battalion was based at Camp Shorabak, in Helmand province, during the six-month tour which included 'Operational Mentoring and Liaison Training'.

This involved working with the Afghan national army and training them in the same way British soldiers would be trained.

They were given advice and access to the same armaments and equipment used by the British Army.

Another member of the battalion back on British soil last night was Lance Corporal Martin Jordan, 24, of Alvaston.

He said: "This was easily the toughest tour of duty I have undertaken in eight years in the Army.

"The hardest part for me was losing two close friends, Guardsman Downes and Guardsman Probyn. Morale does take a bit of a dip when things like that happen.

"When we lost them both I didn't have a girlfriend, which they both did, and I found myself thinking why couldn't it have been me?"

As well as Neil Downes, 20, from Manchester and Daniel Probyn, 22, from Tipton, the Grenadier Guards also lost Guardsman Simon Davison, 22, from Cannock, and David Atherton, 25, also from Manchester.

Another Grenadier, 27-year-old guardsman Daryl Hickey, from Birmingham, was killed while on manoeuvres with the 2nd Mercian (Worcesters and Foresters) regiment in Afghanistan on July 12.

Regiment Adjutant Major Grant Baker heaped praise on the guards as they came off coaches from RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire.

He said: "This tour is the first time the regiment has seen fighting and warfare this intense since the Second World War. Our committed men showed bravery beyond their years in the face of an enemy stiff with resolve."

The 2nd Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), in which most of Derbyshire's soldiers are represented, is due home next month, at about the same time as the rest of the Grenadier Guards.

> UK's Afghan gains 'may be lost'

UK's Afghan gains 'may be lost'

Gen McNeill said he expected the Taleban to regroup over winter British troops in Afghanistan may have to take ground they have gained this summer again next year, the Nato commander has warned. Gen Dan McNeill said the alliance had made some important military gains over the past six months in Helmand. But he expressed concern that Afghan security forces would not be able to retain security in the territory as the Taleban regroup over winter. About 25 British troops have been killed there in the past six months. Tactics in Helmand province, in the south of Afghanistan, over the past six months have been to push the Taleban out of the lush river valleys where the insurgents have had a stronghold. The tactics have meant close-quarters fighting for British troops. Exit strategy Gen McNeill, in an interview with BBC correspondent Alastair Leithhead, said this had been a successful military strategy but that he was concerned the job of holding the ground would not be done effectively by Afghan national security forces. He said some of the ground taken may have to be taken all over again next year if the Taleban regroup over the winter as he fears they will. "I think there is some chance of that because the Afghan national security forces have not been as successful in holding as we would like them to be," he said. "We are likely to have to do some of this work again. "It would nice if the Afghan national security force could hold it, then there's less of a chance we'll have to do it again." Our correspondent explained that after British troops have pushed forward, leaving Afghan National Security Forces behind to hold the ground, it can be difficult to maintain security. Taleban fighters launch insurgent-style attacks such as roadside bombings, which eat away at the confidence the presence of international forces is trying to achieve. Operations would have to be launched again to increase the level of security, he explained. Training the Afghan army and police to a level where they can maintain Afghanistan security is the exit strategy for foreign forces. Gen McNeill said the mission was on track and he was pleased with the military progress and ongoing reconstruction projects. However, he said the third key pillar - improving governance - was not going well and more work would have to be done.

> Grenadier Guards return home after si...

Grenadier Guards return home after six-month tour of Afghanistan

By DANIEL BATES - More by this author >> Last updated at 09:24am on 26th September 2007

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There were tears and celebrations as 111 members of the Grenadier Guards returned to their barracks in Aldershot after a six-month tour of Afghanistan.

But the joy was tempered by the loss of five of their comrades and concerns among the soldiers over how quickly they had been sent away.

The 111 service personnel flew into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at 8pm this evening before being bussed down to their Hampshire barracks.

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Reunited: Lance Sgt Chris Beardshaw of the Grenadier Guards cuddles his children after he arrived back to Aldershot from Afghanistan

There they were met by their wives and young children holding up banners which read "Welcome home Daddy", "Welcome back home" and "Welcome home Rob and all the Grenadier Guards".

As the men got off the coaches their families rushed towards them and greeted them with tearful hugs.

The mood was summed up by commanding officer Lt Col Carew Hatherley.

He had an emotional reunion with his wife Canada, 35, and daughter Isabelle, six even though she didn't initially recognise who he was.

He said: "It's been a long old six months and has been pretty ferocious at times.

"We've been very busy these last couple of years and it's fantastic to be home and see my family.

"Isabelle didn't actually recognise me when she first saw me and asked: 'Is that you Daddy?'

"Whilst it is great to be home our thoughts are with those who didn't make it back."

Sgt Lee Northam, 34, from Windsor, was looking forward to seeing one-year-old son Henry take his first steps.

He said: "Its lovely to be home and I've seen a DVD of Henry walking but to actually see it for myself will be incredible."

His wife Anne, 39, a PA added: "Today is like all of my birthdays have come at the same time. The last few days have been a real rollercoaster and I've been living on adrenaline.

"Its going to be lovely to have him home for more than a couple of weeks."

Lance Sgt Chris Beardshaw, 29, was met by his family holding a "Welcome Home Daddy" banner.

He picked up son Rhys, five, who asked him: "Daddy, are you staying for more than a few weeks?" To which he replied: "Yes I am son, I love you."

He was then hugged by other son Devon, two, daughter Dannielle, 12, and wife Lara, 35.

She said: "I've been in touch with him once a week or so on the phone but to see him in the flesh, I can't describe it. I hardly recognised him as he's been away for so long."

Some of the soldiers raised concerns that they had been sent out to Afghanistan too soon after coming back from a tour of Iraq.

Guardsman Matthew Lyne-Pirkis, 27, said: "The time between us coming home and us being sent out is ridiculous.

"I went straight onto a medic course after I got back from Iraq and didn't really get a break at all. This will be a much needed rest."

The turnaround between this deployment and the previous one in Afghanistan is believed to be the fastest for any infantry unit in modern history.

Lance Sergeant Paul Fear, 36, added: "It's a massive relief to have this break because we've done three tours in the last three years.

"Officially we're supposed to get a two-year break between the tours but between Iraq and Afghanistan it was only a matter of months."

The Grenadier Guards were sent on a tour of Bosnia in 2004/2005, then they were sent to Iraq in 2006 and that was followed by Afghanistan in 2007.

The Grenadier Guards' role in their latest mission in Afghanistan was to train up and supervise the Afghan Army.

Around 100 have already returned home after a six month tour and 200 more will return in mid-October.

> On the ground with the Grenadiers

On the ground with the Grenadiers

By Vaughan Smith Freelance video journalist

Twenty years ago I left the Grenadier Guards to become a freelance cameraman.

The Grenadiers have been training the Afghan National Army

Three months later I was in Southern Afghanistan filming Afghans shelling Russians at Kandahar's Airport.

I could not have then imagined that Afghanistan's wars would drag on this long and that the Grenadier Guards would one day end up fighting in Afghanistan.

The Grenadier Guards, part of 12 Brigade commanded by Brigadier John Lorimer, have been in Southern Afghanistan all summer, often fighting in temperatures in the high 40s.

Training on the job

At the end of August I went to stay with them in Helmand for three weeks.

The troops spent much of the operation wading through water

Of the films that I took, the operation conducted on 30 and 31 August 2007 in the Sangin Valley best illustrated what British soldiers have been doing this summer in Southern Afghanistan.

The Grenadiers have been training the Helmand Brigade of the Afghan National Army.

But this is no normal training programme. The bullets are real and so are the Taliban. This really is training on job.

Controlling the troops

This operation was the first time that the ANA were employed by the British within a formal British military operation of this size.

Controlling this number of troops, trying to keep them safe while making quick progress and managing the communications and fire support is complex.

Training the ANA is the sort of work that would normally be done by Special Forces.

The four Grenadiers in the film have to have their wits about them. They have to be extra vigilant: they cannot expect ANA soldiers to behave the way British soldiers would.

The Grenadiers, while taking the lead in attacks, have to carry extra equipment.

The ANA are brave fighters, and are excellent at spotting the Taliban, but they are not used to British levels of military discipline and organisation.

The Grenadiers rely on translators for communication and this is very difficult when the bullets are flying.

In conversation, British officers loosely estimated that, during this operation in the Sangin Valley, they killed about 30 Taliban.

These are not official figures. It is not the British Army's policy to claim body-counts.

Tactics

British soldiers seem respectful of the fighting ability of the Taliban. The Taliban are very mobile, know the ground better and try to surprise and disrupt the British and Afghan National Army advance whenever they can.

Running between compounds - but the Taliban have usually fled by the time they arrive

The Taliban are almost always the first to open fire, seeing the British before being seen. They fire with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades.

The British, when they have worked out where the Taliban are firing from, return fire aggressively to encourage the Taliban to "keep their heads down" and therefore stop firing.

British tactics are methodical but more cumbersome. The British are not prepared to take unnecessary casualties and try to use helicopters or artillery in an attempt to kill the Taliban before sending soldiers in.

Most of the time, when the soldiers arrive they find that the Taliban have evacuated their positions, taking any wounded or dead with them.

The British, part of a larger NATO force, aim to clear areas of Taliban and encourage the farmers and townsfolk to return and carry on with life as normal.

It is too early to say whether they are going to be successful in the long run.

When NATO leave Afghanistan the Afghan National Army (ANA) will have to take over the fight against the Taliban, securing whatever gains NATO has achieved.

Modern warfare

The fighting in Afghanistan is tough and would be recognised by veterans of the Second World War. But the Taliban are not the German Wehrmacht and modern wars that are 60 years apart defy simplistic comparison.

Taking aim - but the Taliban are nearly always the first to open fire

One important difference is that modern medicine greatly increases the chances of surviving a battle wound.

In the Second World War, more Commonwealth soldiers were listed as missing or killed than were evacuated as wounded.

In Southern Afghanistan today, a soldier that has the misfortune of being hit has roughly a 90 per cent chance of living.

But there is, consequently, a very much larger chance the injured soldier will end up facing life without a limb or two, lose their eyesight, or spend the rest their life bearing severe disfigurement.

The British public does not properly understand this loss because casualty statistics issued have yet to detail these severe injuries.

Carrying the 'kit'

There are stories about the British equipment not being good enough.

During my stay in Helmand almost everybody complained about the lack of transport helicopters. But then there is not much else to do, except complain, when you are waiting for a helicopter.

The soldiers don't grumble about their personal "kit". The boots are good, ammunition plentiful and the fire support too.

Some say that the larger radios that they carry are too heavy. This is important because the British carry everything with them all the time.

They fight with their packs on.

This report can be seen on Newsnight on Wednesday, 26 September at 10.30pm on BBC TWO.

You can watch and read more about Vaughan Smith's work at fromthefrontline.co.uk.

> MOD to give troops £140 council tax r...

MOD to give troops £140 council tax rebate

By BENEDICT BROGAN Last updated at 00:18am on 25th September 2007

Soldiers say are unfairly targeted by the tax system

Troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are to receive a £140 council tax rebate.

The Ministry of Defence has agreed to the cut following a sustained grass roots campaign by servicemen and their families.

Soldiers have complained that they are unfairly targeted by the tax system because they are expected to keep paying council tax even while they are abroad on active service.

But it is understood the discount will apply only to those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan - those serving in Bosnia, the Falklands and other overseas posts will not qualify.

With the average council tax bill at £952 - or about £18.31 a week - the cut planned by Defence Secretary Des Browne is worth about 15 per cent.

Gordon Brown has been stung by recent criticisms that the Government is neglecting the welfare of the Armed Forces at a time when servicemen are giving their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

While based in combat positions, British soldiers get free food and accommodation, although they have to pay council tax on their usually meagre barrack rooms in Britain.

In his speech to the Labour conference yesterday, the Prime Minister said: "Our Armed Services with bravery and heroism every single day make us proud. We mourn those who have been lost and we honour all those who in distant places of danger give so much to our country."

But Conservative defence spokesman Liam Fox said last night: "This has all the hallmarks of the MoD being bounced into giving a good headline to Number 10."

"The nature of this measure will be divisive amongst the Armed Forces because it discriminates between personnel on different operations."

"It will put further pressure on the frontline budget because no new money is being made available to the MoD. Yet again it's Gordon's spin first, our forces' welfare second."

The council tax rebate is the latest boost to overseas troops amid concern that their morale is being stretched to breaking point.

Until last month families of British servicemen and women had to pay hundreds of pounds a year to send their relatives parcels from home.

But the Royal Mail waived the charges after public outcry and pressure from the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt.

But many complain their wages do not reflect their dangerous work and long hours.

A soldier on £14,300 is being paid at the rate of £2.45 an hour for being on duty for at least 16 hours a day in a combat zone.

The statutory minimum wage is £5.05 an hour, which will soon rise to £5.35.

A Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army with more than four years' experience would earn a comparative wage, while an American private starting their army career would earn just £7,800 a year.

But on top of that both can get dozens of other allowances, including a tax-free housing benefit. They also get a basic allowance of subsistence for meals which is around £95 for officers and £140 for enlisted members.

Another benefit they can claim is the hazardous duty pay incentive to reflect the dangers they are in. For most this is £75 a month but can but as much as £112 a month.

U.S. troops also receive significantly better hospital care if they are injured.

The MoD says British troops get subsidised accommodation and food, sports and entertainment facilities, free medical and dental care, discounted rail travel and subsidised crËche and nursery facilities on most bases.

> Army chief warns of social 'gulf'

Army chief warns of social 'gulf'

The head of the British Army says he is becoming increasingly concerned about "the growing gulf between the Army and the nation".

Gen Sir Richard Dannatt said soldiers were sometimes greeted with indifference on returning from service.

He contrasted the attitude in Britain with support for soldiers among people in the United States.

A "willingness to serve in such an atmosphere again" could be sapped, he said in a speech in London.

Gen Dannatt told the International Institute for Strategic Studies: "Soldiers want to be understood and they want to be respected for their commitment.

"When a young soldier has been fighting in Basra or Helmand, he wants to know that the people in their local pub know and understand what he has been doing and why."

"Soldiers are genuinely concerned when they come back from Iraq to hear the population that sent them being occasionally dismissive or indifferent about their achievements," he added.

Gen Dannatt compared the situations in the UK and the US, where firms offer discounts to serving soldiers and people shake the hand of those in uniform.

He said that, in the UK, "we still have a nation that, at times, seems immune to homeless and psychologically-damaged soldiers".

"As operational commitments have become more intense, so has the need for support from the nation," he said.

"We must move from being a society that uses the military as a political and media football and more towards seeing the military for what it is."

That was "the instrument of foreign policy conducted by a democratically-elected government acting in the name of the people".

Campaign support

Gen Dannatt also called for a radical rethink on the equipment used in the British Army.

He said that "too often we have been seduced by high technology".

He called for more money to be spent on "getting the very lowest level right".

This involved "equipping the man first and building the system around him", Gen Dannatt added.

Major General Patrick Cordingley, who commanded the Desert Rats during the 1991 Gulf War, agreed there was a lack of understanding about the role of armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think the real problem is that the armed forces are at war and the country isn't, therefore there is an inevitable misunderstanding of what our armed forces are doing," he told BBC News 24.

There was a great difference between the public's attitude to the first Gulf War and the second, he said.

"The first Gulf War was seen to be just, was seen to be the correct thing to do and the country was right behind everybody who went down and what went on.

"The second Gulf War was a very different situation indeed - probably not just, perhaps not even legal and a 50-50 split in the country - not a popular war."

He added that he believed the media and the Ministry of Defence were partly to blame for not explaining what members of the armed forces were doing in Iraq and Afghanistan.

> Colour Sergeant Phillip Newman & Priv...

Colour Sergeant Phillip Newman & Private Brian Tunnicliffe killed in Afghanistan

21 Sep 07

It is with much sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the deaths of Colour Sergeant Phillip Newman of 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment and Private Brian Tunnicliffe of 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) in a tragic accident in southern Afghanistan on Thursday 20 September 2007.

Colour Sergeant Phillip Newman
[Picture: MOD]

Both soldiers were deployed on Operation Palk Wahel with A (Grenadier) Company 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) and were conducting an essential re-supply during a pause in the fighting.

They were travelling in a Pinzgauer 4X4, 5km south west of their patrol base in an area north of Gereshk, on their way to a rendezvous point as part of a two vehicle replenishment patrol. The vehicle over-turned and tragically landed on its roof in an irrigation channel. One other passenger was able to escape without injury. Despite all of the efforts of the patrol, a medical officer, engineers and a quick reaction force who were on the scene within minutes, sadly Colour Sergeant Newman and Private Tunnicliffe were unable to be saved.

Colour Sergeant Phillip Newman
Colour Sergeant Phillip Newman, aged 36, enlisted into the Territorial Army in Coventry in August 1994 as a member of the 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, later to become the West Midlands Regiment, and as of 1st September 2007, 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment. Throughout his Territorial Army career, Colour Sergeant Newman showed true commitment to operations having deployed to Afghanistan previously and Iraq on a further occasion in support of the regular Army. Due to his natural talent and hard work, he rose quickly through the ranks and became a formidable Colour Sergeant who was an outstanding model for the current day Territorial Army soldier.

Colour Sergeant Newman volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan and had previously served with 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (now 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment) on Operation HERRICK 1 in 2004/5 as an operations senior non commissioned officer and watch keeper. He had recently requested to stay with the Battalion for the next two years on a full time reserve service contract. He was going to be employed as Officer Commanding Machine Gun Platoon, an area where he had a specific expertise.

Whilst on Op HERRICK 6, he was employed once again as an operations senior non commissioned officer and assisted with the Company Quarter Master Sergeant party. He had recently returned from a demanding deployment with A (Grenadier) Company to Garmsir in southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Colour Sergeant Newman will be sorely missed by both his regular and Territorial Army colleagues and will be remembered as a professional, dedicated soldier and loving family man. His loss will be immeasurable for the Army but his love of the job and the love and pride he showed for his family should never be forgotten. Our thoughts are with his wife Stephanie and his children Mackenzie, Josh and Tia at this very difficult time.

Commanding Officer - 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Yardley said:

"Colour Sergeant Phillip Newman joined 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in August 1994 at his local Territorial Army centre and was extremely proud of his Fusilier heritage. He was a mainstay of the West Midlands Regiment, later 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment. Phillip was a highly experienced and professional member of the Territorial Army having served in Afghanistan on two previous occasions in support of the regular Army and also in Iraq with a Territorial Army company comprised of soldiers from the West Midlands area. Using his knowledge and leadership he provided a strong role model for many young Territorial soldiers who were experiencing operations for the first time. Phillip volunteered again to deploy to Afghanistan and it was during this deployment that he was tragically killed.

"As a member of the Territorial Army he was well known throughout all ranks of the Battalion as a larger than life character and his thirst for adventure was infectious for so many of those who were close to him. Phillip touched many people's lives, here and abroad; he personified all that was good in a soldier, he led from the front and protected those who could not protect themselves. A tragic loss, but far from a wasted life, I, like so many people who served with Phillip feel extremely privileged to have known him. This hugely experienced and popular soldier will be missed by all ranks of this Battalion and also the wider Mercian Regiment which he served so well. He will be remembered as a professional, dedicated soldier and loving family man. His loss will be immeasurable for the Army but his love of the job and the love and pride he showed for his family should never be forgotten.

"Phillip was a dedicated family man; he took great pride in his children's achievements and was devoted to Stephanie, his wife. It is Stephanie and his three children Mackenzie, Josh and Tia that our thoughts and prayers are with at this difficult time."

Permanent Staff Administration Officer A (Fusilier) Company - 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment, Captain Steve Hopkinson said:

"Colour Sergeant Phil Newman was a first class, staunch Fusilier who wore the hackle with pride and was admired by all in A (Fusilier) Company. A veteran of four operational tours he provided knowledge, experience and realism into all aspects of Territorial Army life. A colleague, a confidant and great friend, I will miss his sense of humour and his outlook on life. A man who placed family first, he will be sadly missed. A true Fusilier!"

Colleague and friend, Sergeant Billy Henry 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment said:

"Colour Sergeant Phil Newman, a professional, dedicated soldier respected by all who knew him, Phil served for 13 years in the Territorial Army as a part of 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and West Midlands Regiment. He also undertook full time reserve service operational tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq in his time. A harder working or dedicated senior non commissioned officer you could not find. I served with Phil during training, Recce platoon and Sustained Fire platoon 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and as a part of A (Fusilier) Company, West Midlands Regiment. He was a close genuine friend, with a great sense of humour and a loving family man he will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

Colour Sergeant Newman's wife, Stephanie said:

"Phil was a loving husband and a brilliant father of three to Josh, 12, Mackenzie, 11, and Tia, 8. He took great pride in all of his achievements. His great sense of humour made the most of any situation. We are very proud of him. He died doing what he loved and we will all miss him very much."

Private Brian Tunnicliffe
[Picture: MOD]

Private Brian Tunnicliffe
Private Brian Tunnicliffe, aged 33, from Ilkeston, was enlisted into the Army in Derby and commenced his training at the Army Training Regiment Lichfield followed by the Infantry Training Centre Catterick in January 1997. He arrived at the Battalion in the summer of 1997, whilst it was based in Tidworth. He deployed soon after to Bosnia in 1998. He later deployed to Omagh, Northern Ireland in 2000 for a two year residential tour of duty and again to South Armagh in 2003. Additionally he had deployed to Belize and Kenya and exercised on HMS Nottingham.

As a senior Private soldier, Private Tunnicliffe had been employed in various roles over the last 10 years. He spent most of his career as a store man in A (Grenadier) Company, assisting many an Officer Commanding and Company Quarter Master Sergeant. His varied other tasks included a spell as Ram Orderly to Private Derby, the Regiment's Swalesdale Derbyshire Ram mascot. Private Derby too was thankful for the companionship, never had he been exercised so much or cared for so diligently. More recently Private Tunnicliffe was employed in the motor transport platoon.

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

"'Private 'Tunny' Tunnicliffe was a true Regimental character known to every officer and soldier alike who has served with the Battalion over the past decade. He would always go the extra mile, ensuring those around him were looked after, whether it be his Company Commander or the soldiers in the Company. All he ever wanted was to make others happy; a thank you and pat on the back was always sufficient reward.

"As soldiers past and present will testify, there isn't a single man who has served in 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters/ 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) who won't have a collection of 'Tunnicliffe stories'. Private Tunnicliffe reflected the archetypal county infantryman, fiercely loyal to his regiment and his friends. A truly big hearted Ilkeston man through and through, our lives are darker now that his bright light has gone out."

Captain Adrian Garrett - Adjutant 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) said:

"Private Tunnicliffe was one of the first soldiers that I met when I joined the Battalion. As the Company store man he always gave 100 % effort to the guys deploying onto the ground. His natural strength was renowned, although in true contrast you would never meet a warmer spirited individual with always a kind word. All Worcesters and Foresters, past and present have lost a close friend."

Captain Richard (Fred) Slaney - Quarter Master (Technical) 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) said:

"Never afraid of hard work, Private Tunnicliffe would always get stuck in and offer a lending hand no matter what the task. He had two sides; on one side he was as strong as an ox, he could dig a trench and have brews on in no time. On the other side he loved baking cakes which he would proudly share with the lads, quite clearly he was very popular within the motor transport platoon. A real lively character who was full of chat, he will be truly missed."

Sergeant Brian Burgess - Motor Transport Platoon Sergeant 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) said:

"Private Tunnicliffe was as strong as an ox, with a large heart to match. He went out of his way to help you, all he wanted was praise. Everyone knew 'Tunni', his character and that familiar voice."

Private Tunnicliffe's wife, Lindsey said:

"Beloved Husband and Best Friend. Loved the Army, always reliable and the worst cook in the world. We'll miss you "Tunni""

Defence Secretary Des Browne said:

"I am deeply saddened by the deaths of Colour Sergeant Newman and Private Tunnicliffe. Both were dedicated, professional soldiers. Their loss strengthens our resolve to continue with our mission in Afghanistan and I commend their comrades for continuing the fight at what must be a difficult time for them. My thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends and comrades."

> Lance Corporal Ivano Violino killed i...

Lance Corporal Ivano Violino killed in Afghanistan

19 Sep 07

It is with immense sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Lance Corporal Ivano Violino from 20 Field Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment in southern Afghanistan on Monday 17 September 2007.

Lance Corporal Ivano Violino
[Picture: MOD]

Lance Corporal Violino was commanding an FL12 Self-Loading Dump Truck on a routine logistics convoy, moving vital engineering equipment to a Forward Operating Base 19 kilometre north east of the town of Gereshk in Helmand province, when his vehicle was caught in an explosion. Despite the best efforts of the Air Medical Emergency Response Team who arrived on the scene shortly after the explosion, Lance Corporal Violino was sadly pronounced dead on arrival at the field hospital at Camp Bastion.

Lance Corporal Ivano Violino

Lance Corporal Ivano Violino, known as "Sean", aged 29, was born in Salford. He joined the Army on 18 January 2002. Having completed combat engineer training at 3 Royal School Military Engineering Regiment and driver training at the Defence School of Transport, Leaconfield, Lance Corporal Violino joined 36 Engineer Regiment as a member of the Combat Support Troop, 50 Headquarters & Support Squadron on 11 February 2003. He was an Army canoeist and regularly represented the regiment at rugby.

In March 2003 Lance Corporal Violino deployed with the Regiment to Kuwait and took part in Operation TELIC. He was deservedly promoted to Lance Corporal in October 2004 and in April 2006 he was cross-posted within 36 Engineer Regiment to Support Troop, 20 Field Squadron.

As part of 20 Field Squadron he deployed to Canada in February 2007 to take part in a demanding construction exercise to upgrade and construct facilities at the British Army Training Unit, Suffield. Thereafter Lance Corporal Violino participated fully in the pre-deployment training for Afghanistan deploying with his Squadron on the 52 Infantry Brigade exercise on Salisbury Plain and taking part in a live firing exercise on Thetford Training Area. Prior to his deployment, Lance Corporal Violino's high professional standards were recognised when he was selected for promotion to Corporal.

"The very epitome of a modern professional soldier, [Lance Corporal Violino] lived life to the full and gave his all to the Army, his comrades and to his family."

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Wardlaw, Commanding Officer 36 Engineer Regiment

Lance Corporal Violino arrived in Afghanistan on 2 September 2007 and is sadly the first fatality from 36 Engineer Regiment. He leaves behind his wife, Katey Anne (known as Katey), and seven-year-old twins from a previous relationship, Ellie and Lewis.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Wardlaw, Commanding Officer 36 Engineer Regiment, said:

"Lance Corporal Violino was an experienced and dedicated junior non commissioned officer, the very epitome of a modern professional soldier, who lived life to the full and gave his all to the Army, his comrades and to his family. Extremely fit, enthusiastic and exceptionally hard working, he drew respect and praise in equal measure: his recent and early selection for promotion to Corporal is testament to the excellent career which lay ahead. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten by all those who had the honour to serve alongside him."

Major Gareth Baker, Officer Commanding 20 Field Squadron, said:

"Lance Corporal Violino was a dedicated professional with a strong sense of duty and endless enthusiasm for his chosen career. He was a privilege to command; was always positive, proactive, and utterly reliable in everything he did. He took immense pride in his performance both at work and in his sporting pursuits. An excellent sportsman; he was awarded Army colours for canoeing and was an integral member of the winning Royal Engineers team in the extremely physically demanding Devizes to Westminster canoe race.

"Lance Corporal Violino's outstanding performance was recognised by all who worked with him. He made his mark in the Squadron with his endless professional knowledge, high standards and genteel manner."

Major Gareth Baker, Officer Commanding 20 Field Squadron

"Lance Corporal Violino's outstanding performance was recognised by all who worked with him. He made his mark in the Squadron with his endless professional knowledge, high standards and genteel manner. Nothing was too much trouble and he had time for anyone who would benefit from his experience. He regularly took on responsibilities beyond his rank and was always prepared to help others. This fact had been recognised by his early promotion to Lance Corporal and his recent selection for promotion to Corporal ahead of his peers.

"I cannot express how deeply shocked all of the Squadron have been by this tragic loss so early in our deployment. Lance Corporal Violino was killed by an indiscriminate explosive device while commanding a key piece of engineer equipment. His mission was to move the equipment as part of a large logistics convoy to ensure it was in the right place at the right time. Our only consolation is that it was typical of his character to volunteer for this mission, fully aware of the risks associated, and he was supporting the Squadron effort in the best way he could. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends who have lost a husband, father and exceptional man."

Warrant Officer Class 2 Pat Rendell, Squadron Sergeant Major 20 Field Squadron, said:

"Lance Corporal Ivano Violino was a first class junior non commissioned officer, a larger than life character and an extremely well respected member of the Squadron and Regiment. The word professional sums this man up perfectly, as proved by his recent selection for promotion to Corporal. The enthusiasm with which he conducted himself was infectious and others who worked alongside him have no doubt benefited from his breadth and depth of knowledge. The news of his death came as a great shock to all who knew him. My thoughts go out to all his family and friends. He will be sorely missed by all members of 20 Field Squadron. Missed but not forgotten."

"Sean was very proud to be a member of the Armed Forces, in particular the Royal Engineers, and having been selected for promotion to Corporal had a bright future ahead of him. The world is a poorer place without Sean."

Lance Corporal Violino's wife, Katey

A close friend of Lance Corporal Violino, Lance Corporal Adam Cornelius, 50 Headquarters and Support Squadron, said:

"Lance Corporal Violino, or Sean to his friends, was an all round good guy. I had the privilege to know him, his wife Katey and his two young twins Ellie and Lewis. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time of great sadness.

"I will remember Sean best for his 'Cheeky Chappy' attitude to life both in and out of work. His death is a massive loss as he was an individual who had so much to give to others."

Lance Corporal Graham Bradley, 20 Field Squadron, a close friend, added:

"Sean was an excellent non commissioned officer who was well respected by his blokes. But most of all he was a genuinely good man and friend; he talked constantly about his wife, children and his ambitions for himself and his family."

Sean's wife, Katey, said:

"Sean will be sadly missed for his infectious enthusiasm for life and his desire to be everyone's friend. He was popular with everyone he met and was loved by friends and family alike. Sean was very proud to be a member of the Armed Forces, in particular the Royal Engineers, and having been selected for promotion to Corporal had a bright future ahead of him. The world is a poorer place without Sean."

Defence Secretary Des Browne said:

"The death of Lance Corporal Violino is profoundly tragic. The Army has lost a highly professional soldier and his death is an immense blow to all who knew him. I hope that his family, friends and comrades will draw comfort from the fact that he died doing a job he clearly excelled at. My thoughts are with all of them at this very sad time."