> Third British soldier in three days killed in mortar attack in Helmand - Independent Online Edition > Asia

Third British soldier in three days killed in mortar attack in Helmand
By Raymond Whitaker and Marie Woolf
Published: 29 July 2007

The third British soldier to be killed in southern Afghanistan in as many days was named last night by the Ministry of Defence. Sergeant Barry Keen, 34, from Newcastle, was fatally wounded in a mortar attack on a compound near the village of Mirmandab in Helmand province on Friday.

Sgt Keen, of 245 Signal Squadron, 14 Signals Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, was reorganising with his team in a secured area after acting in support of the Afghan National Army when a single mortar round landed next to him. Despite receiving immediate medical treatment, his injuries were too severe for him to survive.

The sergeant's death brought the number of British troops lost in Afghanistan to 67. It followed those of Guardsman David Atherton on Thursday and Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins on Thursday, amid fierce fighting in Helmand's upper Gereshk Valley. All three soldiers were taking part in Operation Chakush (Hammer), launched last week to drive out the Taliban from an area of strategic significance. The aim is to create a safe area for engineers to restore the Kajaki dam, which could supply hydroelectricity to much of the southern part of the country and provide irrigation for farmers in an effort to lure them away from growing opium.

But last night opposition MPs accused the Government of making British soldiers vulnerable to attack by failing to plan properly and send in reinforcements. Patrick Mercer, the Conservative MP for Newark and Retford, said the Government's failure to send more troops to Afghanistan was putting soldiers at unnecessary risk.

According to the former army officer, who used to train soldiers at military college, the battle plan was so badly thought out that he would have failed anyone who proposed it. He said British troops needed more helicopter support and reinforcements.

"We went into Afghanistan horribly undermanned, and therefore very vulnerable," he said. "If you concentrate your troops in vehicles you become vulnerable; if you have more troops on the ground you become less vulnerable. You have to have more firepower in the shape of more troops, and more manoeuvrability in the shape of helicopters. If this plan had been written by a student of mine I would have failed them."

Sir Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, called on Gordon Brown to "act now" to reinforce troops in Afghanistan. "The most recent death of a British soldier in Afghanistan, and the fact that the number of casualties is climbing, shows that the operation is getting tougher for our servicemen and women," he said. "A recent leaked memorandum from the head of the Army warns of Britain's troop reserves being 'almost non-existent'. What more evidence does Gordon Brown need to set a target date to get our troops out of Iraq and focus on Afghanistan?"

Liam Fox, the shadow Defence Secretary, said the Army was severely overstretched in Afghanistan and did not have the necessary troops to hold territory they had occupied. "One of our problems is that we have the ability to take ground, but not sufficient troops to hold it. We know that we have insufficient troops on the ground. It is vital that we succeed."

Tributes were paid by fellow soldiers last night to Sgt Keen, who joined the Army in 1989 and had served nearly 18 years. His career included tours in Bosnia and Northern Ireland. Lieutenant Dave Phillips, his troop commander, said: "Sgt Keen was the epitome of a Royal Signals senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO). An inspirational figure within the troop, he was widely respected and well liked by all. The soldiers he worked with looked up to him and would willingly deploy alongside him. I relied upon his knowledge and experience on an almost daily basis. Not once did he let me down."

A colleague, Warrant Officer Class 2 Gaz Robinson, said: "My friendship with Baz goes back about 15 years and I cannot begin to describe my emotions at this time. I can honestly say that he has changed not one bit since I first met him. He was a quality soldier and tradesman who had the ability to make you laugh out loud with his jokes and stories. I will never forget the friendship we shared."

> Sergeant Barry Keen of 14 Signal Regiment killed in Afghanistan

Sergeant Barry Keen of 14 Signal Regiment killed in Afghanistan

28 Jul 07

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of Sergeant Barry Keen of 14 Signal Regiment, killed by a mortar attack in Afghanistan on Friday 27 July 2007.

Sergeant Barry Keen, 14 Signal Regiment
[Picture: MOD]

Sergeant Keen was serving as a communications specialist with 245 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, attached to Battle Group (South).  The Battle Group is currently deployed on Operation CHAKUSH (or "hammer"), a deliberate operation to defeat the Taleban in the Upper Geresk Valley, Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan.

The operation was in its fourth day of fierce fighting when Sergeant Keen was killed in an indirect fire attack on compound near the village of Mirmandab. He and his team were reorganising themselves in a secured area after acting in support of the Afghan National Army, when a single mortar round landed next to Sergeant Keen.

Despite being located with the Regimental Aid Post and receiving immediate medical treatment, sadly Sergeant Keen's injuries were too severe and he died.

Sergeant Barry Keen, aged 34, was from Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, and had spent nearly 18 years in the Army having joined in August 1989; his long and industrious career included tours in Bosnia and Northern Ireland.

Lieutenant Colonel Steve Vickery, Commanding Officer 14 Signal Regiment said:

"During his 6 month tour in Afghanistan, Barry had thoroughly proved himself as a dedicated soldier with a flair for helping others. This trait had been strongly evident throughout his career and typified a man who always thought of others before himself.

"Modest to a tee, he was respected by all who met him. He died doing the job he loved - helping his fellow soldiers perform their duties in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

"It is also a mark of his quality that he had recently been selected to attend specialist communications training, he was due to commence his intensive training in September at Blandford Camp, Dorset.

"The news of his death has been received here in the Regiment with great sadness, but also with a fierce determination to complete our tasks and to be a force for good in Afghanistan."

Lt Col Steve Vickery, Commanding Officer 14 Signal Regiment

"The news of his death has been received here in the Regiment with great sadness, but also with a fierce determination to complete our tasks and to be a force for good in Afghanistan.

"This Regiment and the Army are a close-knit family which has pulled together in this difficult time. We offer our sincere condolences and his wide circle of friends."

Lieutenant Dave Phillips, his Troop Commander said:

"Sergeant Keen was the epitome of a Royal Signal senior Non Commissioned Officer (SNCO). An inspirational figure within the Troop, he was widely respected and well liked by all. The soldiers he worked with looked up to him and would willingly deploy along side him. As his Troop Commander I relied upon his knowledge and experience on an almost daily basis, not once did he let me down.

"Sergeant Keen will be missed by all those that knew him, not only as a tradesman and a soldier but as a friend."

Friend and comrade Sergeant Bruce Morrison said:

"Baz was a good guy who would always put a smile on your face and lift your spirits. We used to make the most of the bad times with our outrageous banter. He will be sorely missed as a soldier but even more as a friend."

Staff Sergeant Daz Edge, his friend and colleague said:

"Baz was one of those people who naturally brought out the best in all those he worked and had contact with. He was most happy when deployed onto the ground and was not shy in making his feelings known when he was left in barracks while others were out.

"An excellent team commander and operator, Baz lead his team from the front and died carrying out his duty whilst under fire. The Squadron will be so much less without him and all those who knew him will undoubtedly feel his loss greatly.

"A good mate for a lot of years and colourful character with an infectious laugh, Baz will not be forgotten."

"Even though Baz was a SNCO, he was, and always will be one of the lads. I will never forget the friendship we shared."

WO2 Gaz Robinson

Warrant Officer Class 2 Gaz Robinson, another friend and colleague, added:

"My friendship with Baz goes back about 15 years and I cannot begin to describe my emotions at this time. I can honestly say that he has changed not one bit since I first met him. He was a quality soldier and tradesman who had the ability to make you laugh out loud with his jokes and stories.

"Even though Baz was a SNCO, he was, and always will be one of the lads. I will never forget the friendship we shared."

Defence Secretary Des Browne said:

"Sergeant Keen was an experienced and professional soldier, and I am deeply saddened by his death. He died on an important mission supporting the Afghan National Army to bring security and stability to their people.

"My thoughts are with his family, friends and comrades at this most difficult time."

Sergeant Keen's family have provided the following statement:

"The devastating news of Barry's death has come as a shock to our family. Our only comfort is that he died doing a job that he loved and that he believed in.

"We now need time to come to terms with our loss, and request as much privacy as possible at this difficult time".

> Guardsman David Atherton from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards killed in Afghanistan

Guardsman David Atherton from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards killed in Afghanistan

27 Jul 07

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Guardsman David Atherton from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in southern Afghanistan on Thursday 26 July 2007.

Guardsman David Atherton
[Picture: MOD]

Guardsman Atherton was serving in the Anti-Tank section in Number 3 Company, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. The Company, serving as part of Battle Group South, is currently deployed on Operation CHAKUSH, a deliberate operation to defeat the Taliban in the Upper Gereshk Valley in order to create the security conditions to allow reconstruction and development to flourish.

The operation was in its third day of fighting when Guardsman Atherton was killed during a fierce fire fight against Taliban fighters near the village of Mirmandab. He had just successfully engaged a Taliban position with a Javelin anti-tank missile when he was shot. His brave actions helped to neutralise the enemy threat and enabled his Company to advance safely.

Guardsman David Atherton

Guardsman David Atherton, aged 25, was from Manchester. He joined the Army in 2002 and had already completed operational tours in Bosnia and Iraq.

Guardsman Atherton's Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Carew Hatherley, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, said:

"Guardsman Atherton was a real character and a good friend to all who knew him. Whether he was conducting ceremonial duties in London in his tunic and bearskin, or fighting in combats, he was immensely proud to be a Grenadier. He was highly respected by all who served alongside him.

"During his time in Afghanistan he had been operating in the most austere conditions and the harshest of climates. He had risen to the difficult challenges he constantly faced, given selfless service to his nation and died doing what he loved alongside his Grenadier comrades. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, fiancé and daughter as they come to terms with his death."

Colonel Angus Watson MBE, Commanding Officer Battle Group (South), said:

"The tragic death of Guardsman Atherton this morning on Op CHAKUSH has been keenly felt across the Battle Group. He died as his company was going forward, bravely taking the fight to a tenacious and determined enemy. Guardsman Atherton was a character, well known and much liked by all members of Number 3 Coy, and he will be sorely missed by his comrades both in The Grenadier Guards and in Battle Group (South)."

"Guardsman Atherton was a real character and a good friend to all who knew him. Whether he was conducting ceremonial duties in London in his tunic and bearskin, or fighting in combats, he was immensely proud to be a Grenadier. He was highly respected by all who served alongside him."

Lieutenant Colonel Carew Hatherley, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards

Captain Rupert King-Evans, his Company Commander, said:

"When Number 3 Company was re-formed last year for operations in Afghanistan, I had a lot of new people to get to know. Guardsman Atherton stood out from the beginning for his cheerful demeanour, boundless enthusiasm and enormous personality. 'Jaffa' was a member of the Anti-Tank Platoon and has proved his ability during countless engagements on this tour.

"He was an excellent soldier and was someone who could be relied upon, both at home in England and on operations. I am privileged to have known him and my thoughts and those of the entire Company go out to his family, especially his girlfriend and young daughter. Guardsman Atherton was a real character and he will always be remembered."

Lance Sergeant Robert Pancott, his Section Commander, said:

"David was known to everyone as Jaffa. As his Section Commander I couldn't have asked for a better soldier. He was always first to volunteer and he never let anything get him down. He loved to be at the forefront of any banter and he would always be cracking jokes, usually at everyone else's expense! Jaffa was one of the characters that make Army life so enjoyable. He will be missed by everyone in the Battalion. I will never forget him."

His friend Guardsman Carl Fairclough said:

"Jaffa was a good mate that you could trust with your life. If you were ever feeling down he would always be there to cheer you up or help you out. He will be forever missed by his friends in the Anti-Tanks."

"Jaffa was a good mate that you could trust with your life. If you were ever feeling down he would always be there to cheer you up or help you out. He will be forever missed by his friends in the Anti-Tanks."

Guardsman Carl Fairclough

Another friend, Guardsman Robert Jones, said:

"Jaffa was Jaffa. He was always playing jokes and always up for a laugh. He was forever smiling and joking, whatever the situation was, keeping everyone's morale up. A great soldier and a great mate."

Guardsman Junior Adon added:

"Jaffa was the sort of bloke you could rely on to get things done. He was always talking about his family and particularly his special daughter. He was a guy that can't be replaced and will always be missed."

Guardsman Atherton's family have provided the following statement:

"David was a professional and dedicated soldier. He loved the Army and it is hard to imagine him doing anything else. A kind, caring, loving, father, son, brother and boyfriend, he was considerate, thoughtful and the light of our life and the world will be a duller place without him.

"We respectfully request that the media consider our request to be left alone at this time and allow us to come to terms with our loss."

Defence Secretary Des Browne said:

"Guardsman Atherton's death in Afghanistan is tragic news and I would like to offer my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Guardsman Atherton's skill and bravery is an example to us all."

> Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment killed in Afghanistan

Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment killed in Afghanistan

26 Jul 07

It is with deep sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins, aged 22, of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday 25 July 2007.

Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
[Picture: MOD]

Lance Corporal Hawkins was killed and two other soldiers were injured in an explosion at around 0550 hours local time in the north eastern outskirts of Sangin in Helmand province. The soldiers had been taking part in a routine patrol and were returning to their patrol base when the explosion struck their Vector vehicle.

An emergency response helicopter was requested and Lance Corporal Hawkins was flown to the ISAF medical facility at Camp Bastion, but sadly he did not survive. The two other casualties were also taken to the ISAF hospital to receive treatment for their injuries. The Vector vehicle could not be removed so it was destroyed to avoid it falling into enemy hands and the convoy continued to its destination.

Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins

Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins showed a huge interest in the military from an early age and joined the cadets in his home town of East Dereham, Norfolk at the first opportunity. Having thoroughly enjoyed his time in the Army Cadet Force it was no surprise that he decided to join the Army as a career. He chose to forge that career in his county regiment; The 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment. He joined up in January 2003 and from the start he was an impressive soldier. His commitment was unquestioned and it was clear that he thoroughly enjoyed the military life.

Lance Corporal Hawkins was a huge fitness fanatic and also played rugby and loved skiing. He was modest by nature and let his actions speak louder than words. He had all the key attributes of a soldier and showed courage, determination and leadership skills in abundance.

Having completed his first operational tour of duty as a Rifleman in Iraq, it was no surprise that Lance Corporal Hawkins volunteered to undertake the demanding training to qualify as a sniper. He relished the challenge and earned his sniper badge in 2006. Having made this significant achievement, he went onto complete a Non Commissioned Officer's cadre after which he was immediately promoted to Lance Corporal. He relished the challenge of deploying to Afghanistan and was highly motivated by the opportunity to do his job for real. On operations, he proved himself in combat during intense engagements with the Taliban many times.

Lance Corporal Hawkins was very highly thought of by his fellow soldiers and had a bright future ahead of him. He will be very sorely missed throughout the Battalion and leaves behind his parents, his elder sister, and his younger brother who has recently joined the Army.

Lance Corporal Hawkins' family said:

"Alex died doing the job he loved. He dreamed of joining the Army and becoming a sniper. This he achieved within his first year and was the top student on his course.

"He was an excellent cadet and an excellent soldier, a kind, loving son, brother and boyfriend, always thinking of others before himself. He was the light of our life and the world will be a duller place without him. Will the media please respect our wishes and not make any further contact at this time."

"Lance Corporal Hawkins epitomised the British Infantry soldier. Whatever role he was deployed in, he always displayed the utmost professionalism and the other men in the platoon always looked up to him."

Captain Ollie Ormiston

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Carver, said:

"Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins was one of the most promising soldiers of his generation. A natural leader and trained sniper he was a superb example to others and highly respected throughout the Vikings. He leaves behind some fond memories and a lasting legacy that we will all strive to live up to. Never to be forgotten, he will go down in Regimental history as a true professional and close friend who we feel privileged to have served and fought with. Our sincere condolences are with his family and friends at this very difficult time."

Major Charles Calder, the Officer Commanding Lance Corporal Hawkins' Company, said:

"Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins died doing the job he loved in the company of some of his closest friends. He was a truly professional soldier and will be sorely missed, but not forgotten, by all ranks in the Company."

Captain Ollie Ormiston, who knew him, said:

"Lance Corporal Hawkins epitomised the British Infantry soldier. Whatever role he was deployed in, he always displayed the utmost professionalism and the other men in the platoon always looked up to him. He was one of the boys and no-one had a bad word to say about him. We will miss him as a soldier, and more importantly as a friend."

 

Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins pictured with his girlfriend Louise
[Picture: MOD]

Lance Corporal Hawkins' friend, Lance Corporal Craig 'Chicken' Rouse, paid this tribute to him:

"Any soldier in the British Army would have been honoured to have him fight by his side. He will be sorely missed. Recruits passing out of training should model themselves on him. He was a model soldier."

Lance Corporal John 'Elvis' King said:

"He was a soldier, a friend. He's gone but not forgotten. His name will always live on in Sniper platoon."

Private Harrison 'Ford' McCabe said:

"He'd always help you out, no matter how stupid or trivial the question. I could always go to him."

Private Vince 'S-J' Saunders-Jones said:

"He was a good bloke, quick to smile and a friend to many."

Private Jonathon 'Gucci' Cucciniello said:

"No matter how hard or tough things got, he never let it get the best of him. He always cracked on with it."

Defence Secretary Des Browne said:

"The death of such a talented and popular soldier as Lance Corporal Hawkins is a dreadful loss. He died defending our country and helping to bring stability to Afghanistan. His contribution will be remembered with honour. At this very sad time, my thoughts are with Lance Corporal Hawkins' family, friends, and his comrades doing vital work in Helmand province."

> British and Afghan Forces launch new offensive against the Taliban

British and Afghan Forces launch new offensive against the Taliban

26 Jul 07

British soldiers from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), working alongside their Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) counterparts, have launched a further operation to drive the Taliban out of the Upper Gereshk Valley in southern Afghanistan.

Soldiers of 3 Company, The First Battalion Grenadier Guards, approach their landing zone
[Picture: Sergeant Will Craig]

The Task Force level offensive, codenamed 'Chakush' or 'Hammer', began in the early hours of Tuesday 24 July 2007 in the area between Heyderabad and Mirmandab, north east of Gereshk.

Led by the British commanded Task Force Helmand, the operation is continuing the momentum towards expelling Taliban forces from areas of the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand province.

ISAF's enduring objective is to extend the influence and control of Afghanistan's democratically elected Government as well as enabling vital reconstruction and development projects to take place.

The creation of an enduring security presence in the Upper Gereshk Valley is an important step to achieving these objectives.

A Chinook helicopter fires flares as it delivers troops for a further operation to drive the Taliban out of the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan
[Picture: Sergeant Will Craig]

During the initial stages of the operation, ISAF and Afghan National Security Forces advanced to secure a strategic bridge crossing over the Nahr-e-Seraj canal, clearing and searching compounds, before military engineers from 26 Engineer Regiment established a joint forward operating base in order to provide an enduring and reassuring security presence in the area.

ISAF soldiers and the Afghan National Army are continuing to move through Taliban-held areas expanding north, south and east into the Upper Gereshk Valley.

Conducted in support of the Afghan Government and in consultation with the local authorities, Operation Chakush builds on progress made in defeating the Taliban and extending the Afghan Government's authority within Helmand province during recent months.

Sand and dust is thrown up as 3 Company, The First Battalion Grenadier Guards deploy from an RAF Chinook helicopter
[Picture: Sergeant Will Craig]

Task Force Helmand spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Mayo said:

"This operation is another important step in continuing the progress we have made recently in providing the enduring security conditions required for the Afghan Government to remove Taliban influence from the communities in Sangin and the Upper Gereshk Valley.

"It is vitally important to prevent the Taliban intimidating and terrorising the local population so that they can go about their daily lives peacefully.

Royal Engineers blow a hole in a wall to enable The First Battalion Grenadiers Guards to clear a compound in a further operation to drive the Taliban out of the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan
[Picture: Sergeant Will Craig]

"The malignant presence of the Taliban subjects the people of Helmand to the threat of violence and hampers reconstruction and development projects that are so important to improving their quality of life.

"The local people have welcomed Afghan National Army and Task Force Helmand soldiers and are pleased that we are driving the Taliban out of their villages.

"They know that Afghan National Army and ISAF soldiers are working hard to deliver the peace and stability they so desperately want."

'Pushing on' - British troops patrol further into territory previously held by the Taliban
[Picture: Sergeant Will Craig]

A total of 2,000 ISAF and ANSF personnel are taking part in the operation, 1,500 of those being drawn from British forces, namely The Light Dragoons, The First Battalion Grenadier Guards - who are providing operational mentoring to Afghan National Army troops (from 2nd Kandak 3rd Brigade 205 Corps Afghan National Army), the (12 Mechanized) Brigade Reconnaissance Force, 26 Regiment Royal Engineers, 19th Regiment Royal Artillery, the Joint Force EOD group as well as troops from Estonia, Denmark and the US. ISAF helicopters and aircraft are providing support to ground troops.

The UK-led Task Force Helmand has carried out a number of recent operations in the province. Earlier this month Operation Leg Tufaan ("Small Storm") removed Taliban influence from the towns of Gereshk and Kakaran into the Upper Gereshk Valley. Operation Ghartse Gar ("Mountain Stag") was launched to take control of Jusyalay, between Sangin and Putay.

> Britain losing 'hearts and minds' in ...

Britain losing 'hearts and minds' in Afghanistan

By David Harrison, Sunday Telegraph

Last Updated: 1:46am BST 23/07/2007

Britain faces a critical 18 months in Afghanistan and may need to send troops in US-style "surges" to defeat the Taliban, a senior Foreign Office official has warned.

	British troops are losing the battle for hearts and minds in Afghanistan

He said that British troops were losing the battle for "hearts and minds" because of rising civilian casualties and war damage.

The official, who has worked for a long time in Afghanistan, told The Sunday Telegraph: "The next 18 months will be crucial. If we do not make progress in that time then we could be in deep trouble.

"We are losing the consent of the Afghan people and that is a serious concern. There is a real risk that Nato might win the battle but lose the war."

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that the head of the Army has warned colleagues that Britain has almost run out of troops to defend the country.

In a memo, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, said that fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, training commitments and leave meant that only a single battalion of 500 troops would be available in the event of an emergency.

In the memo, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, he wrote: "We now have almost no capability to react to the unexpected."

The warnings follow a Commons Defence Committee report last week which said that Nato was beginning to fail in Afghanistan, and called for thousands more soldiers to be deployed to take on the resurgent Taliban and accelerate the pace of construction projects.

In their report, the MPs said they were "deeply concerned" that the reluctance of some Nato members to provide troops for the Afghanistan mission was undermining Nato's credibility.

Army generals fear that failure in Afghanistan could lead to an Islamist government seizing power in Pakistan and spark a regional civil war between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

The high-ranking Foreign Office official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that British and other Nato soldiers were losing support because so many innocent civilians were being killed and their homes were being destroyed.

He said he feared that Nato might not have the "strategic patience" to continue the fight for 10 years or more, whereas the Taliban would fight on for 20 or 30 years. There was a genuine possibility that Holland and Canada would pull their troops out of Afghanistan after 2009, he said.

"We may have the watches but the Taliban have the time," the official added.

The official said that to achieve a serious breakthrough it was "crucial" to open talks with the Taliban and try to persuade their less extreme members to "cross over" in return for a stake in the government of Helmand and other volatile provinces.

But this had to be done by the Afghan government and not by Nato, he said. He feared that Hamid Karzai, the Afghan leader, was not strong enough to carry this out.

Increased reconstruction work, creating hundreds of local jobs and providing locals with water and electricity, was necessary to regain the support of local people, the official said.

Britain has provided 7,700 out of Nato's 36,750 troops, in Afghanistan, the second biggest contribution after the US.

> Afghan Advances

Afghan Advances

 

Compound clearance: Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment and elements of 1st Battalion, Grendaier Guards drop in on a suspected Taliban position

Step up in the action: Bayonet fixed, Cpl Christina Kisby of 3 Yorks attached to 1 R Anglian, moves through a compound during a search for Taliban fighters in Sangin

Cold calling: Pte Barney Scrivener, 1 R Anglian joins the search

Future plans: Dialogue with village elders will help determine the most pressing reconstruction projects

Desert dash: A Task Force Helmand convoy throws up dust as it snakes its way through the Sangin Valley

Report: Cliff Caswell
Pictures: Cpl Adrian Harlem RLC

BATTLE-hardened British troops have been facing daily clashes with "a cunning and determined enemy" as they continue to wrestle southern Afghanistan from the Taliban.

According to commanders, soldiers from 12 Mechanized Brigade have been involved in frequent contacts but are confident that the fight for Helmand province is being won.

Along with allies from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and counterparts from the Afghan National Army, troops have been involved in a series of actions to oust the Taliban from key areas and pave the way for reconstruction to begin.

"Our soldiers have been under contact every day," an Army spokesman told Soldier. "The attacks have been across the board - everything from a couple of rockets fired at a compound to sporadic firing and drive-by shootings. It has been consistent but morale among the troops out here has been very high."

In the latest of a high-profile series of ops, British commanders hinted that there would be further actions in key areas of Helmand as this issue went to press.

It was anticipated that there could be initiatives focusing on consolidating the gains already made, as well as bolstering the infrastructure to take the battle to the enemy.

The current operations are part of a wider series of actions that have proved highly successful. Soldiers recently swept through the Sangin Valley, smashing Taliban positions and sending a clear message that the rule of law would prevail.

Among those involved in hunting down the Taliban diehards were soldiers of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment.

During Op Lastay Kulang ("pickaxe handle" in Pashtu), the men of B (Suffolk) Company advanced from the town of Sangin to Kajaki, clearing the area of rogue forces as they went.

Sgt Michael Woodrow said: "The first day of the operation was the most aggressive and intense. RPGs were flying around and we had two mine strikes within 24 hours. It was a long op but the lads coped very well."

The battalion's A (Norfolk) Company conducted a similar search for the enemy further north.

"Our job was to clear Taliban who we knew were waiting for us somewhere in the area," Pte Terry North explained. "It was a bit of a blower and physically demanding.

"We patrolled throughout the day but as soon as we were on the ground RPGs and small arms fire hit us."

Pte Tom Duggy added: "It was pretty exciting because every time we searched a compound, we did not know what to expect. In the end, Taliban elements were destroyed or fled away from the area."

Brig John Lorimer, the British Commander of Task Force Helmand and 12 Mechanized Brigade, said his soldiers and officers were satisfied at the steady progress.

He added: "To date the operation has been very successful - we have managed to clear the areas we wished to clear and have now engaged with local nationals and tribal elders.

We're helping to bring reconstruction and development.Afghanistan is a complicated environment - it's hot, the conditions are pretty difficult and, after the winter break, the Taliban have increased in numbers."

Brig Lorimer admitted the enemy was "cunning and determined" but was confident that the terrorists were being beaten and the confidence of local people being won.

"When we close with the Taliban we beat them - but the critical part is what happens after that," the commander said. "We're now into the phase of talking to the locals, speaking to the tribal leaders, finding out what their needs are and showing them the importance of supporting the government of Afghanistan."

Brig Lorimer acknowledged that bringing the democratic ideal to some areas of Helmand would be a challenge but said that troops were committed to the task.

"It's a tough job out here, but we always knew that it would be tough," he said. "We have got an important job to do, a mission we believe in. Nato and Task Force Helmand are taking the fight to the enemy."

As previously reported, securing the Sangin Valley and weeding out Taliban resistance has been a key aim for both Isaf and Afghan National Army troops.

Last month Soldier revealed how a number of new bases were under construction in the town of Gareshk to consolidate the successes of Op Silicon earlier in the year

> Britain almost out of troops, memo reveals - Telegraph

Britain almost out of troops, memo reveals - Telegraph

Britain almost out of troops, memo reveals

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent

Last Updated: 9:54pm BST 20/07/2007

The head of the Army has issued a dire warning that Britain has almost run out of troops to defend the country or fight abroad, a secret document obtained by the Daily Telegraph has revealed.

	The memorandum from the CGS: Click to enlarge

Gen Sir Richard Dannatt has told senior commanders that reinforcements for emergencies or for operations in Iraq or Afghanistan are "now almost non-existent".

In the memorandum to fellow defence leaders, the Chief of the General Staff (CGS) confessed that "we now have almost no capability to react to the unexpected".

The "undermanned" Army now has all its units committed to either training for war in Iraq and Afghanistan, on leave or on operations.

There is just one battalion of 500 troops, called the Spearhead Lead Element, available to be used in an emergency, such as a major domestic terrorist attack or a rapid deployment overseas.

Gen Dannatt's comments will come as the first serious test of Gordon Brown's policy on defence.

The new Prime Minister has already faced anger over the decision to give Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, the additional part-time role of Scottish Secretary with Tories labelling the move "an insult to our Armed Forces."

Military leaders have privately suggested that a defence review is essential to examine if more money, equipment and troops are needed.

With Britain's military reserve locker virtually empty, further pressure will mount on President George W Bush to review US troop levels in Iraq after fellow Republicans suggesting significant withdrawals.

It also comes at a time when more forces are needed to combat the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, said the lack of reserves was "an appalling situation and damning indictment" of the way the Government handled the Services.

"They are being asked to carry out tasks for which they are neither funded or equipped for. There is an urgent need to review our strategic approach because we cannot continue over-stretching our Forces."

The document said that Britain's second back-up unit, called the Airborne Task Force formed around the Parachute Regiment, was unavailable. It was unable to fully deploy "due to shortages in manpower, equipment and stocks".

Most of the Paras' vehicles and weapons have stayed in Afghanistan with other units using them in intense battles against the Taliban.

Parachute Regiment officers are deeply concerned that with nearly all their equipment abroad they are unable to train properly for future operations.

The Paras also no longer have the ability to parachute as a 600-strong battalion because no RAF planes were available to drop then en-masse, the document said. The situation was unlikely to be resolved until late August.

	General Sir Richard Dannatt

With the Army significantly under-strength by 3,500 troops – many disillusioned with being constantly on dangerous operations and away from their families – it is now struggling to plug the gaps on the frontline.

"The enduring nature and scale of current operations continues to stretch people," Gen Dannatt wrote.

The Army now needed to "augment" 2,500 troops from other units onto operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to bring up the total force to 13,000 required. This remained "far higher than we ever assumed," the CGS said.

"When this is combined with the effects of under-manning (principally in the infantry and Royal Artillery) and the pace of training support needed to prepare units for operations, the tempo of life in the Field Army is intense."

The Army has also been forced to call up almost 1,000 Territorial Army soldiers for overseas operations. The general's concerns came after three RAF personnel were killed in a mortar or rocket attack on the main British headquarters five miles outside Basra bringing the total dead in Iraq to 162.

With the main force pulling out of Basra city to the air station in the coming months there is concern of increased attacks on the large base where some troops are forced to live in tented accommodation.

A lack of vehicles meant that "training is significantly constrained".

Gen Dannatt was also "concerned" that some equipment, particularly Scimitar light tanks that are vital to fighting in Afghanistan but are 40 years old, "may be at the edge of their sustainability".

More needed to be done on housing and pay in order to retained troops because "people are more likely to stay if we look after them properly".

The pressure on numbers was partially being alleviated by bringing in civilian firms to train soldiers and guard bases and by "adopting a pragmatic approach to risk where possible".

While the current situation was "manageable" Gen Dannatt was "very concerned about the longer term implications of the impact of this level of operations on our people, equipment and future operational capability".

It is not the first time Gen Dannatt has raised concerns on Britain's fighting ability. A few weeks into his job last year, Sir Richard said the military was "running hot" and urged for a national debate on defence.

The plain-speaking officer later suggested that the British presence in Iraq was "exacerbating the security problems" and warned that the Army would "break" if it was kept there too long.

Gen Dannatt, who said manning was "critical" in the Army, called for extra infantry units earlier this month following the devastating cuts inflicted by his predecessor Gen Sir Mike Jackson which saw four battalions axed.

"General Dannatt's appraisal means that we are unable to intervene if there is an emergency in Britain or elsewhere, that's self-evident," a senior officer said.

"But this is a direct result of the decision to go into Afghanistan on the assumption that Iraq would diminish simultaneously. We are now reaping the reward of that assumption."

> UK troop reserves 'almost gone'

BBC NEWS | UK | UK troop reserves 'almost gone'

Operations abroad have put pressure on Britain's military forces

The head of the Army has warned that British troops are so stretched that the nation's military reserves are "almost non-existent".

In the memo, leaked to the Daily Telegraph, General Sir Richard Dannatt said the Army was undermanned because of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He also said vital equipment was being used "at the edge of sustainability".

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the forces were working hard but the current situation was "manageable".

General Dannatt also said the Army has "almost no capability to react to the unexpected".

He said: "It is difficult to predict the long-term effect of this level of pressure on people. It is critical that we improve manning as quickly as we can."

Revisit planning

There is reportedly just one battalion of 500 troops, called the Spearhead Lead Element, available to be used in an emergency, such as a major domestic terrorist attack or a rapid deployment overseas.

The MoD conceded that if "operations continue at this pace, we will have to revisit our planning assumptions".

Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, said the lack of reserves was "an appalling situation and damning indictment" of the way the government handled the Services.

"They are being asked to carry out tasks for which they are neither funded or equipped for. There is an urgent need to review our strategic approach because we cannot continue over-stretching our Forces."

In October General Dannatt said that the presence of UK armed forces in Iraq "exacerbates the security problems" and they should "get out some time soon".

He also said that initial planning for the post-war period had been poor.

> 52 Infantry Brigade to replace 12 Mechanised Brigade in Afghanistan

Defence Internet | Defence News | 52 Infantry Brigade to replace 12 Mechanised Brigade in Afghanistan

52 Infantry Brigade to replace 12 Mechanised Brigade in Afghanistan

19 Jul 07

Defence Secretary Des Browne has today, Thursday 19 July 2007, announced the next roulement of UK forces in Aghanistan, scheduled to take place in October 2007.

Lance Corporal David Jones of The Queen's Royal Lancers (QRL) on patrol in Maysaan Province during their tour of Iraq. Elements of the QRL will deploy to Afghanistan later this year.
[Picture: Cpl Russ Nolan RLC]

The force package that is expected to deploy will see the lead formation, 12 Mechanised Brigade, replaced by 52 Infantry Brigade, which will provide the majority of the units serving in Afghanistan.

The bulk of these units represent direct replacements for the Afghanistan deployments Mr Browne announced on 1 February 2007 and 26 February 2007. All military operations are subject to regular review. As a result, Mr Browne has also agreed to deploy an additional troop of the highly regarded VIKING Protected Mobility Vehicles, manned by Royal Marines and the Queen's Royal Lancers, to enhance further the Task Force Helmand's ability to manoeuvre.

In addition, from 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008 the UK will act as Principal Co-ordinating Nation for NATO's management of Kandahar airfield. Mr Browne is also considering options to enhance UK support for the Afghan National Security Forces. As a result the total UK commitment in Afghanistan is likely to be around 7,800 by the end of this year.

The forces deploying include elements of:

• 52 Infantry Brigade Headquarters and 258 Signal Squadron
• 846 Naval Air Squadron
• Naval Strike Wing
• 40 Commando Royal Marines
• Armoured Support Group, Royal Marines
• The Household Cavalry Regiment
• 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards including elements of Right Flank 1st Battalion Scots Guards
• 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)
• 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles
• 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery
• 36 Engineer Regiment
• 27 Transport Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
• 5 General Support Medical Regiment
• 1 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• Elements of The King's Royal Hussars
• Elements of The Queen's Royal Lancers
• Elements of 5th Regiment, Royal Artillery
• Elements of 16th Regiment, Royal Artillery
• Elements of 32nd Regiment, Royal Artillery
• Elements of 39th Regiment, Royal Artillery
• Elements of 47th Regiment, Royal Artillery
• Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
• Elements of 70 Gurkha Field Support Squadron
• Headquarters 62 Works Group Royal Engineers, 519 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Works)
• Elements of 10th Signal Regiment, The Royal Corps of Signals
• Elements of 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), The Royal Corps of Signals
• Elements of 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support), The Royal Corps of Signals
• Elements of 30th Signal Regiment, The Royal Corps Signals
• Elements of 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps
• Elements of 1 Close Support Company, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• Elements of 7th Battalion, The Rifles
• Elements of 52nd Lowland, 6 Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
• Elements of 9 Regiment, Army Air Corps
• Headquarters 102 Logistic Brigade
• Elements of 9 Supply Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
• Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
• Elements of 12 Logistic Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
• Elements of 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps (47 Air Dispatch Squadron)
• Elements of 24 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
• Elements of 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
• Elements of 148 Squadron Expeditionary Forces Institute (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
• Hospital Squadron formed from 201 Field Hospital (V) and 243 Field Hospital (V)
• Elements of 7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• 101 Provost Company, 5th Provost Regiment, Royal Military Police
• Elements of 1 Military Intelligence Brigade
• Elements of Joint Civil Military Co-operation (CIMIC) Group
• Elements of 90 Signals Unit Royal Air Force
• 904 Expeditionary Air Wing Royal Air Force
• Elements of 1 Air Control Centre Royal Air Force
• 15 Regiment Field Squadron Royal Air Force
• 7 Force Protection Wing Headquarters Royal Air Force
• Elements of:
• 18 Squadron Royal Air Force
• 24 Squadron Royal Air Force
• 27 Squadrons Royal Air Force
• 30 Squadron Royal Air Force
• 47 Squadron Royal Air Force
• 70 Squadron Royal Air Force
• Elements of 1 Air Movements Wing Royal Air Force
• Elements of 85 (Expeditionary Logistic) Wing Headquarters, Royal Air Force
• Elements of 2 Motor Transport Squadron, Royal Air Force
• Elements of 5001 Squadron, Royal Air Force
• Elements of Mobile Catering Support Unit
• Elements of Tactical Medical Wing
• Elements of Tactical Armament Squadron
• Elements of Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing
• Elements of 151 Transport Regiment (Volunteers) The Royal Logistic Corps

Volunteer and Regular members of the reserve forces will continue to deploy to Afghanistan as part of this integrated force package, and we expect to have eventually issued in the order of 750 call-out notices to fill over 600 posts. On completion of their mobilisation procedures, the reservists will undertake a period of training and, where applicable, integration with their respective receiving units. The majority will serve on operations for six or seven months, although some may have shorter tours. As part of this commitment, we expect up to 20 members of the Sponsored reserves to be in Theatre at any one time.

In his Written Ministerial Statement to the House of Commons, Mr Browne stressed the importance of burden-sharing within the International Security Assistance Force:

"I should like to welcome the recent decision by the Danish parliament to increase their deployment in Helmand. Operating under 52 Infantry Brigade's command will be a Danish Battlegroup which, building on our close co-operation with Danish forces in Iraq, will exercise tactical command over two British infantry companies. This important increase in the Danish contribution to Task Force Helmand is a significant boost to its operational capability and its capacity to help stabilise and secure Helmand province."

> Marines officer gets MBE honour

BBC NEWS | UK | Marines officer gets MBE honour

Marines officer gets MBE honour

Over 3,000 UK troops are based in Afghanistan

A Royal Marines officer who commanded British forces in Afghanistan has been honoured with an MBE.

Major Oliver Lee, who has completed six months as Brigade Operations Officer of the country's UK Task Force, praised his troops' "tremendous qualities".

His honour comes as the Ministry of Defence announced 139 awards for UK servicemen and women around the world.

A committee of MPs had earlier called for Nato countries to commit additional troops to Afghanistan.

A tremendous amount is being done right now to achieve our goal Maj Oliver Lee

The Commons defence committee said it was "deeply concerned" that some member countries were reluctant to contribute personnel.

Maj Lee highlighted the efforts of British forces already on the ground.

He said: "It is not for me to comment on troop numbers.

"But I can say that a tremendous amount is being done right now to achieve our goal.

"The guys are extremely well trained and have tremendous qualities as soldiers."

'Amazing job'

Commandos who have been honoured for their role in Afghanistan were singled out for praise at a press conference in Plymouth, Devon.

They included Corporal John Thompson, of 3 Commando Brigade, who was handed the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.

He is only the 25th person to receive the medal, one below the Victoria Cross, after taking part in more than 30 firefights against the Taleban - including one occasion when he and two other Royal Marines held off more than 40 enemy fighters.

Cpl Thompson said: "For a boy from a council estate in Plymouth to get this for just doing my job is amazing."

Defence Secretary Des Browne has said UK-led Nato forces are facing "problems" in Afghanistan, but insisted that there was no question of troops being pulled out.

> Brigade honoured for Afghanistan

BBC NEWS | England | Devon | Brigade honoured for Afghanistan

Brigade honoured for Afghanistan

The awards recognise the brigade's work in Helmand Province

Devon-based Royal Marines and soldiers have been awarded some of the highest military honours for bravery.

Thirty-nine members of Plymouth's 3 Commando Brigade who risked their lives were given the awards for trying to establish peace in Afghanistan.

The men have been recognised for the acts of supreme bravery and personal courage - some of them posthumously.

Marine Thomas Curry died in an attack in January and Army Warrant Officer Mick Smith was killed in March.

The marines and soldiers from 42 Commando Royal Marines, 29 Commando Royal Artillery, and 59 and 131 Independent Commando Squadrons Royal Engineers were congratulated by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who visited Plymouth's Stonehouse Barracks on Wednesday.

Burst eardrum

Brig David Capewell, 3 Commando Brigade's commander, praised his men's "magnificent" performance.

Major Oliver Lee, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan, was honoured with an MBE.

Cpl John Thompson, from Plymstock, who serves with 42 Commando Royal Marines, received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - the next award below the Victoria Cross.

He took part in more than 30 fire fights against the Taleban, including one occasion when he and two other Royal Marines held off more than 40 enemy fighters.

Cpl Thompson held off 40 enemy Taleban fighters

The corporal was leading a convoy of vehicles when it came under attack in Helmand Province.

He managed to hold off the Taleban while bullets, shrapnel and rocket-propelled grenades rained down around him.

His only injury was a burst eardrum caused by firing off thousands of rounds of ammunition.

"To be a bloke from a Plymouth council estate who's managed to get an award one down from the Victoria Cross is amazing," Cpl Thompson told BBC News.

Other honours for the brigade's work in Helmand Province included two Distinguished Service Orders, 10 Military Crosses and two Queen's Gallantry Medals. Two men were made MBEs.

> Harry's Army Regiment Troops Head to Afghanistan in October

UK Prince Harry's Army Regiment Troops Head to Afghanistan in October

19 July 2007, Thursday

Troops from Britain's Prince Harry's army regiment will be deployed to Afghanistan in October, the UK Defence Secretary of State Desmond Browne said Thursday.

Still, Browne did not say whether Prince Harry will will be among them.

Harry had hoped to be sent to Iraq with his tank unit, but military chiefs ruled in May that the publicity surrounding his deployment could put his unit at risk.

The army's chief of staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said the military would not comment further about Harry's movements.

Meanwhile Minister Browne said his country will increase the nubber of UK soldiers sent to Afghanistan will be increased by 100 to 7,800.

Letters to the Daily Telegraph | Dt Letters | Opinion | Telegraph

Letters to the Daily Telegraph | Dt Letters | Opinion | Telegraph

Serving in Afghanistan

Sir - My son is serving in Afghanistan with the Royal Anglians, and he phoned me upon returning from what an Army spokesman described as "the most challenging infantry operation since the Falklands". Although he was elated, at the same time he was shattered from having to carry 80lb of kit through firefights and ambushes in scorching temperatures. In the previous 48 hours, he had managed to get four hours of sleep.

Yet all he could talk about was food. He asked me to send halva (chocolates are pretty well useless in Afghan summers), nuts and any other high-energy food. Needless to say, a large parcel is on its way. Considering how important blood sugar is to maintaining alertness, I will be sending a lot more parcels. I want my son to come back alive.

Having served in the Territorials myself for nine years, I am only too aware of the niggardly attitude of Ministry of Defence civil servants who have salaries and pensions that mere squaddies cannot even dream about. But at least we got enough to eat, even in the field. My son has spent most of his meagre pay replacing the inadequate kit he was issued. He has asked for US dollars so he is not dependent on relief parcels. My son loves the Army, but the meanness of the current administration defies belief.

> Afghan casualty rate 'at level of last war' | Uk News | News | Telegraph

Afghan casualty rate 'at level of last war'

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent and Graeme Wilson

Last Updated: 2:58am BST 17/07/2007

Frontline: In-depth coverage on our forces in Afghanistan and Iraq The rate at which British soldiers are being seriously injured or killed on the front line in Afghanistan is about to pass that suffered by our troops during the Second World War. The casualty rate suffered by British troops in the most dangerous regions of Afghanistan is approaching 10pc The casualty rate in the most dangerous regions of the country is approaching 10 per cent. Senior officers fear it will ultimately pass the 11 per cent experienced by British soldiers at the height of the conflict 60 years ago. The rise is partly driven by a tenfold increase in the number of wounded in action - those injured, but not killed - in the past six months as fighting in Afghanistan has intensified. Last November, only three British soldiers were wounded in Afghanistan by the Taliban, compared with 38 in May. Meanwhile in Iraq, British troops are now suffering a higher rate of fatal casualties by proportion than their American colleagues. In a five-month period this year, there were 23 fatalities among the 5,500 British troops compared with 463 fatalities among the United States's 165,000 troops, according to the Royal Statistical Society. Military commanders are concerned that the high rate will start to have an impact on operations and morale. The official injury rate given by the Ministry of Defence among the 7,000 British troops in Afghanistan is about three per cent. But when the figures are applied to the three infantry battalions on the front line, it rises to almost 10 per cent. The disclosure follows concern that the MoD's official figures do not accurately reflect the true injury rate in the way the US figures do. They do not take into account, for example, soldiers treated on the front line. Last autumn, Major John Swift, who was commanding a company of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Afghanistan, complained in the regiment's newsletter that the "scale of casualties has not been properly reported". More than 11 million troops served in the British Commonwealth during the Second World War with 580,000 killed or missing and 475,000 wounded, giving a casualty rate of almost 11 per cent. However, the MoD said last night the casualty rate in Afghanistan included non-combat related injuries, such as diseases. The three infantry battalions fighting in Afghanistan have seen the brunt of the action and suffered the most. Out of a well-manned battalion of 650 men, the 1st Bn the Royal Anglians has in the first three months of its tour suffered 42 casualties, who were sent back to Britain. This has included three dead and three who returned to the front line. But 36 soldiers remain in hospital and are unlikely to return to combat operations. With more fighting expected during the summer, officers are bracing themselves for the figure to double in the last three months of their tour, meaning that the battalion could be without an entire combat company. It will also mean that the infantry could exceed the Second World War casualty rate of 11 per cent experienced at the height of the conflict. The Anglians, nicknamed the Vikings, have also sustained a number of minor casualties treated on the front line, which are not included in official MoD statistics. The other two infantry regiments, the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters and Grenadier Guards have been involved in heavy fighting suffering similar casualties. Opposition politicians have condemned the Government for not providing enough resources for troops while waging war on two fronts with "a peace-time budget". "No one except the Government ever thought that a campaign in Afghanistan would not be extremely dangerous," said Julian Lewis, the shadow defence minister. "The fear that we have is that casualties may be higher than otherwise would be the case if our forces fighting in this dangerous theatre were properly resourced." The majority of the wounded are much needed front-line soldiers, experienced in fighting the Taliban. The battalions are relying on soldiers coming straight from basic training to the front line as soon as they turn 18. At least 30 will deploy to the Anglians in Helmand in the next two months, but this will not be enough to replace those being lost. Military commanders are now worried about the dangers raised by a high casualty rate. "There are two issues," said an officer who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Firstly, there is the morale component with teams being broken up when individuals are shipped home. Secondly, there is a reduction in available troops where if you lose 70-odd soldiers with two months of the tour remaining then this will have a real effect on our ability to conduct operations." The Ministry of Defence said it was "nonsense" to suggest that casualty rates in Afghanistan were "anywhere near those suffered in the Second World War".

> They pay with their blood and limbs. ...

They pay with their blood and limbs. Surely we owe them more than this

Until today, the plight of British troops returning home seriously wounded has largely gone unreported. But the 'IoS' has obtained exclusive access to the military wards that look after the maimed and the shell-shocked. And what we have discovered is a system that cannot cope, patchy provision of long-term health care and too few military surgeons. Ian Griggs and Jonathan Owen report

Published: 15 July 2007

All Daniel Twiddy ever wanted to be was a soldier. But his boyhood dream died when he almost lost his life in a friendly fire attack on his tank that killed two of his friends. Just two days into his first tour in Iraq, Lance Corporal Twiddy of the Queen's Royal Lancers found himself fighting for his life, riddled with shrapnel wounds and scorched, with 80 per cent burns.

"I was crawling on my hands and knees, screaming, with blood running down my face. I didn't have a clue what was going on," he recalls, "I couldn't see or hear. All I could feel was this incredible heat."

L/Cpl Twiddy, 23, was airlifted to the premier specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford where he describes his treatment as excellent. He spent months there in treatment but, as with so many war wounded he found it very difficult being treated among civilians and away from the "army family".

"I was in a civilian hospital and the doctors didn't understand what I had been through. Military hospitals know soldiers better and morale is higher there," he said.

The problems started when it came to Mr Twiddy's long-term care and he began to feel the sense of abandonment experienced by many wounded soldiers on their return to the UK. He ended up paying £60 a week for three months for a specialist to apply creams to his burns. "The MoD refused to pay for any of it and that makes you feel bitter," he said. "That sort of thing happens to soldiers a lot. They need help but they are not getting it. The MoD has a duty of care for us but they don't honour it."

Injured two days into the war in March 2003, L/Cpl Twiddy received a medical discharge in 2005. He is scathing about how the MoD treats its discharged soldiers. "Once you are discharged, the MoD doesn't want anything to do with you and the attitude is: let's just get another number in to replace this one. They should care - they blew me up but they don't want anything to do with me."

Mr Twiddy is one of thousands of soldiers that have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan physically and psychologically scarred. Stories like his are becoming all too common as Britain faces a parallel to the Vietnam war, which left America with a generation of embittered veterans.

In Iraq, the rate of wounded is double that of last year, while in Afghanistan casualties already exceed the total for 2006. Suicide attacks, roadside bombings and fire from unseen snipers are resulting in a mounting casualty toll. Since 2001, 223 soldiers have died; 573 have been wounded in action and more than 5,000 have been airlifted out of the war zones needing urgent medical treatment.

As casualties grow in number and severity, Britain's capacity to deal with them in the long term diminishes. The closure of military hospitals in the 1990s has emasculated the MoD's capacity to cope with the mounting casualties resulting from a war on two fronts. In its place are a scattering of MoD NHS units across the country, where the numbers being treated have almost doubled from 24,000 in 2002 to 45,000 in 2004.

Liam Fox, the shadow Defence spokesman, said the Government has failed in its duty of care to soldiers returning from the front. "I think because body armour is much better, your chances of surviving a blast injury are far higher," he said. "The armed forces, the British Legion, the other support services and the general public need to come to terms with what will be a major culture change. We have an absolute moral duty to ensure that injured soldiers are properly looked after. People do not understand that we are going to see an increased number of these disabled young men as a consequence of this conflict."

The MoD admits a shortfall of almost 1,000 in medical personnel, but claims that operational care is unaffected. More than 7,500 military doctors and nurses are needed, but trained strength in this area currently stands at only 6,610. Overall, the Army has less than a third of the general surgeons it needs.

Shortages in doctors mean that Territorial Army reservists are having to fill the gap and Reserved Medical Services are 50 per cent undermanned, with only 380 doctors compared with the 770 needed. Things are so bad that the MoD has had to resort to advertising for agency staff to work in the two war zones. Advertisements in the British Medical Journal are offering £140,000 pro rata for doctors to work there.

The British Medical Association claims manning levels are significantly below requirements. "It is acknowledged that shortages are most severe in speciality areas crucial to operational capability," a spokesman said. Meanwhile, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee has started an inquiry into the medical treatment of wounded soldiers. It will report later this year, but committee members privately admit that it will be highly critical of the lack of long-term care for Britain's war wounded.

Air Commodore Paul Evans, director of health for the MoD, said he is largely satisfied with the treatment that soldiers receive. "I certainly wouldn't want to be quoted as saying the NHS aren't helping us," he said, before conceding, "They sometimes have to be reminded of that priority access that should be available to ex-service personnel with particular attributable injuries or conditions." Brigadier Robin Garnett, the former head of Headley Court, the MoD's only medical rehabilitation centre in Surrey which last week announced a new 32-bed ward, said the decision to close military hospitals in the 1990s "was a big mistake". He told The Independent on Sunday: "They saved money, but the management of the treatment of soldiers deteriorated as a result of the closures and it took a long time to recover from that."

There is little hope of a quick solution to the crisis, with MoD plans to establish a military-managed ward at Birmingham's Selly Oak hospital not due to reach fruition before 2011. But action has been taken to improve conditions at Selly Oak after the hospital came under heavy criticism for the number of soldiers contracting MRSA there. Every military patient is now designated a military nurse as a point of contact, and is seen three times a day by the military team. Work is under way to keep wounded soldiers together at one end of the ward, and the MoD is helping to meet the travel and accommodation costs of visiting relatives.

A visitor to Selly Oak last week described the scene there. "Behind a mere curtain is a world of young men without legs, without parts of their skull, with so much of their insides missing that they need colostomy bags - teenagers and young adults cast prematurely into the realm of the geriatric. More than a dozen are being treated in this ward - some quarantined in side rooms, suffering from MRSA.

"An 18-year-old whose body was shredded by two mortars in Iraq talked excitedly of beginning physio. A young marine who nearly lost a leg in Afghanistan refused chocolate because he did not want to 'let himself go'. A soldier with a severe brain injury apologised profusely as he struggled to remember the date shrapnel tore into his head. When left alone the young men chatted to fellow soldiers nearby or spent hours watching televisions they had to pay extra for.

"In Iraq or Afghanistan their bravery was fuelled by bravado, by strength in numbers, by humour and companionship. Now it had to come from within as they faced a far lonelier and less glamorous test of their courage."

Although medical evacuation times from the battlefield appear to have risen since Vietnam, when wounded soldiers arrived in hospital in 25 minutes, many soldiers say field medicine in Iraq and Afghanistan and the care they initially receive on their return to the UK is excellent. Corporal Lee Gayler of 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment was shot in the groin in Helmand province in April. "When the helicopter turned up there was a doctor and a paramedic on board, and I was flown straight to theatre at Camp Bastion," he said. "There were 15 doctors and nurses waiting for me, all gloved up and ready to operate."

The NHS is meant to prioritise the long-term medical care of soldiers for their battlefield injuries, but Maria Rusling, head of the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association, is emphatic that this is not being honoured. "It's just not happening, and we are fully aware of that," she said. "Other priorities, such as cancer, often override treatments for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder, even though they are completely different areas of treatment."

Efforts to provide support to returning wounded soldiers, including how to access long-term care, by organisations such as the Royal British Legion are hampered by the MoD, once again claiming data protection.

"The MoD has hidden behind a screen of data protection and my colleagues are only allowed to leave information at reception in a hospital rather than see individual patients," said Lt Col Craig Treeby, of the Buckinghamshire Royal British Legion. "We are not aware of any servicemen in hospitals in our area which is inconceivable. This is a major concern because we are unable to offer our services to the people who need them."

The MoD denies that its soldiers are being left without the care they need on their return to the UK. "We provide an excellent level of care for our service personnel who have been wounded on operations," a spokesman said. "This includes life-saving emergency care in the front line, in our field hospitals and in NHS hospitals in the UK; the excellent facilities at the defence medical rehabilitation centre and our regional rehabilitation units; and treatment for those whose mental health has been affected."

Two years and 20 operations on, L/Cpl Twiddy is still going through surgery to reconstruct his face. He does not believe the MoD when it says it cares for its own. "I'm supposed to get priority but it can be a month or more to get an appointment and it takes a long time to get round to having the actual operation.

"It all comes down to money. The US has everything for its soldiers, the very best, but the MoD believes that money is more important than lives."

Additional reporting: Amy Bourke, Daisy Collins, Nina Lakhani, Ellie Wilson, Marie Woolf, Raymond Whitaker

MoD 'must offer psychological facility'

Headley Court in Surrey is the Army's flagship rehabilitation facility for wounded soldiers, but there are increasing demands for an equivalent centre to deal with psychological battle scars. Combat Stress, a charity that helps traumatised veterans, said there should be a centre of excellence and that the work should go to the charity, along with funding. "We are trying to work in partnership with the MoD to treat people with clinical need and it is starting to listen," said Robert Marsh, a spokesman. The Ministry of Defence has 15 Departments of Community Mental Health and is working with army charities to set up pilot schemes for mental health clinics for veterans in NHS hospitals. This week, the Veterans minister is expected to announce a £1m-plus increase in funding for Combat Stress.

The 'IoS' has long campaigned for better treatment of troops, not only in action, but also after service, when many still suffer the mental and physical scars of war

By Ian Griggs and Jonathan Owen

Further information: Visit Helmand: The Soldiers' Story, a new exhibition at the National Army Museum, London, from 3 August