'Buy our boys a beer -they're all heroes' (From The Northern Echo)

'Buy our boys a beer -they're all heroes'

8:22am Monday 29th October 2007

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Senoir officers say the conflict in Afghanistan is giving British troops one of their biggest tests since the Second World War. Joe Willis met soldiers from the region on their return.

BUY our boys a pint, because they deserve it. This is the message from the commander of The Light Dragoons, who claims the efforts of North-East soldiers are going unrecognised.

The regiment is home after spending the past year fighting what Lieutenant Colonel Angus Watson describes as a "tenacious and determined" enemy.

The regiment - which is nicknamed the Northern Cavalry - recruits across the North-East and Yorkshire but is based in Swanton Morley, Norfolk.

Families joined their loved ones at the base on Thursday as the troops were presented with campaign medals.

Lt Col Watson said the 300 members of the regiment had done an exceptional job in difficult circumstances.

"Without exception, the soldiers have performed to the very highest standards," he said.

"They have shown amazing courage and coolness under fire and excellent military skills.

"Many of them are only 18 or 19 years old and have experienced military operations that their predecessors in the regiment have not seen since 1945."

The regiment's commanding officer believes his soldiers are not getting the recognition they deserve and are feeling undervalued.

He said: "My message (to the region) would be that people should be proud of the soldiers who come from your part of the world.

"They've done a very difficult job on your behalf and they've done exceptionally well.

"So when they come home and you meet them in a pub, or wherever it may be, just buy them a pint or give them a pat on the back to say thank you for doing that difficult job jolly well."

During the tour, the regiment was based at Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province.

Soldiers conducted patrols for up to three weeks at a time, on the lookout for the Taliban.

Squadron B, the most recent unit to serve in Afghanistan, was involved in 40 battles with the enemy - the longest lasting for seven hours.

Every weapon at the Taliban's disposal, including rocket-propelled grenades, roadside bombs, land mines and small arms, were used against the force.

Although no member of the regiment died or was seriously injured, six soldiers from units serving alongside the Dragoons were killed.

The troops have faced temperatures of 50C in midsummer - 70C inside Scimitar armoured vehicles used by the regiment.

Scimitar driver Trooper Lee Hunter, from Brandon, County Durham, said: "There was just nothing - it was such an arid country.

"The main threat was land mines, incendiary devices and small arms.

"On one occasion, we were ambushed from just 20m away. On another, we were rocketed from 12km away.

"At first you feel fear. Then when the rounds start returning, you quite enjoy it."

For Trooper Garry Evans, from Shotton Colliery, the tour was his first experience of coming under fire and living under canvas in a war zone.

He said: "When we were in the camp it was all right. We had a tent with air conditioning and showers. But out in the desert it was horrible. You just cover yourself over with a sheet and dig a hole."

The date of the medal parade had extra significance as the 153th anniversary of the Battle of Balaklava and the regiment's involvement in the Charge of the Light Brigade.

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