Brave soldiers march into Afghan front line

More than 100 Territorial Army soldiers from the West Midlands and Staffordshire arrived on the front line in Afghanistan today.

The troops from Normandy Company of the 4th Battalion of the Mercian Regiment flew out to the war-torn country from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire early this morning to start a six-month tour of duty.

Sgt Paul Bywater, a 39-year-old father-of-three from Rugeley, said as they waited to board the transport plane: "We cannot wait to get there. We have done all the training and now it's time to go.

"Morale is high and the only thing we are fed up with is the weather in this country. It is 32 to 36 degrees in Afghanistan."

Normandy Company is made up entirely of Territorial Army soldiers on leave of absence from civilian jobs to serve in Helmand Province, which has seen the most fierce fighting involving British troops since the Second World War.

A total of 152 British service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan since military operations began. Among the most recent fatalities was a soldier from the 6th Rifles who will be replaced by Normandy Company.

Captain David Hawkins, who served for seven years in the Paratroop Regiment before returning to civvy street in 2006 and is second in command of Normandy Company, said: "There is concern, particularly about the threat from roadside bombs, but we are all keen to get on with it.

"A third of the company are ex-regulars and around a half have done at least one tour of duty before and so we are well balanced."

Private Gareth Morris, aged 20, from Wednesfield in Wolverhampton, who in civilian life works as a barman and part-time dancing instructor, is on his first military tour. He said: "I will be happy to get there and get started."

Private Luke Davies, aged 22, from Stafford, who is set to join the police when he returns from the front line later this year, added: "We have been training round the clock since January and now it is time to put theory into practice."

The troops said goodbye to family and friends on Tuesday and Lance Corporal Andy Bolus, from Penn, who works for Carvers builders merchants in Wolverhampton, conceded: "It was an emotional time."

Private Donna Blackhurst, aged 24, from Pendeford, is one of a handful of women in Normandy Company. She is a trained medic who has been in the TA for six years and has already completed a tour of duty in Iraq. This time she will also serve as a driver and passed her HGV test before leaving for the front line.

Donna, who has five brothers and a sister, said: "I cannot wait to get over there. It is the job that we have trained long and hard to do."

Her father Neville and mother Rosemary will be among scores of anxious relatives left in this country waiting for news of loved ones. Mr Blackhurst said: "We are obviously worried but very proud. She is a lot braver than me." Captain Hawkins, who also served in Iraq in 2005 while in the Paras before leaving the regular army, added: "Let us hope that we all come back safe and sound."

The company will be based at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan where their tour of duty will start with two days of lectures and training followed by a week of acclimatisation, during which the troops and their weapons get used to operating in hot temperatures. They are due formally to take over duties from the 6th Rifles towards the end of the month. Among those on hand to offer support are a trauma incident management team prepared to offer assistance in coping with combat shock.

Normandy Company, which includes two 17-year-old soldiers, left with a rallying call from its Commanding Officer Lt Col Martyn Forgrave, who holds the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

He gave a rousing address to the troops at a barracks in North Staffordshire before they started their journey to Brize Norton. Initially, the company's prime job in Afghanistan will be to patrol the area around Camp Bastion, the main army base in Helmand Province.