Our man in Afghanistan: John Scott reports on the troops' pride

Today, in the third of a week-long series of reports, he reports on the troops' pride at their last hurrah:

West Midlands and Staffordshire soldiers will march into the military history books with pride on their return from their last hurrah in Afghanistan, the Commanding Officer promised today.

The 3rd Battalion Mercian Regiment (3Mercian) – formerly the Staffords – will parade along streets where they have been granted the freedom of a town or city this summer after their current tour of duty on the front line, which is the last before the battalion is disbanded as part of plans to cut the strength of the regular army.

There is deep sadness over the loss of Sgt Major Ian Fisher who was killed in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan. Lt Col Davies said: "This was a really massive blow for the battalion. There is still a big hole in the company as a result but despite that they have done well and are in a good place.

"We have to go through the disbandment after our return but we understand the reasons for that and know the regular army has got to be reduced in size."

The companies involved – A and C – have been operating from two of only four bases outside Camp Bastion currently being used by British combat troops. A few years ago there were 137. And the last act of both will be to close their respective base for good – Camp Price near Gereshk and Lashkar Gah Durai in Nahr-e Saraj.

Lt Col Davies remarked: "Neither have any creature comforts left as they prepare for closure. It is now basic soldiering, living on the extremes but there is no requirement for them to be forward any more because the Afghan security forces have control."

There was a stark reminder of the way life was changing whenever members of C Company ate at Camp Price.

They each took away a breeze block along with their paper plate and plastic cutlery after every meal. The 'scoff house' or dining room was literally taken down around them with their help.

The bricks were from internal blast walls erected to protect the soldiers from bomb attacks and were loaded on to pallets outside the building that were then moved by a forklift lorry.

After the dining room disappeared the troops ate in a tent. The shower and toilet block were next to go.

The NAAFI and coffee shop had been levelled just after Christmas and the temporary one-room replacement shut recently in preparation for the complete closure of the base.

The only things left when they leave will be the Hesco perimeter walls that will be used by an adjoining American camp.

Lance Corporal Matty Hill, a 29-year-old father of three who lives with wife Emma in Gornal, is on his second tour of duty on the frontline in Helmand Province. He said: "Taking the brick out every time we had a meal meant everyone did their fair share rather than leaving it to a few to do all the work.

"Whenever you wake up you find something else has gone. But you don't really mind because every time something disappears it means we are closer to going home."

Private Ashley Plummer, aged 22, whose parents Bernice and Steve live in Bilbrook, revealed: "This is my first tour and it has been life-changing.

"It was quite a shock to see how other people live. Last night a geezer who looked 75 arrived at the gates wanting medical assistance after he and some younger lads had been wounded in fighting. He had been hit in the head with shrapnel. My grandfather is the same age and it is impossible to imagine him behaving like that." The former lifeguard at Dudley Baths continued: "It is an important tour because it is the last by 3Mercian and we will all finish it together."

Corporal Dan Hutton, 27 and from Tamworth who is on his fourth operational tour after serving twice in Iraq and once previously in Afghanistan, explained: "It is very different from the last time we were here in 2011. Then there were a lot more foot patrols, boots on the ground and fighting. Now it is all about training the Afghans to do it on their own."

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Private Chris Chapman got engaged to sweetheart Annie Riley of Dordon minutes after midnight on New Year's Eve while at home on the two week R and R leave given to all soldiers during a tour of duty. The 25-year-old told me: "I am enjoying it but will not be sad when it is all over.

"The number of Afghan casualties arriving at the front gate wanting medical assistance has picked up with the arrival of the hotter weather. They know we have got the capability to call in a helicopter to get them to hospital.

" A guy arrived last night who had trodden on an IED and had lost a leg and hand.

"He had been sent up to us by the local hospital in Gereshk who knew we could do more for him than we could.

Lance Corporal Matt Bradley, is a 29-year-old father of three from Gornal who is engaged to partner Louise and on his second Afghan tour. He is in the Quick Reaction Force, which rushes to help Afghan troops when they hit trouble. He said: "Luckily we have not got in any scrapes. It is a lot quieter than last time. They have been totally different tours but both have been equally challenging."

Private Dean Williams, aged 24, from Upper Gornal, who now hopes to join the Paras, commented: "It is sad that 3Mercian is disbanding after this. We have bonded as a group and got to know each other really well. Now we will be split up. I only joined this battalion because of its connection to The Staffords, which it replaced, but now that link with the local community could be lost."

Private Tom Wright, aged 25 and single from Stourbridge, added: "The tour has been important to me because the experience should help with my career in the army after the disbandment of 3Mercian." Private Andrew Bacon, a 28-year-old father of two from Burntwood has spent his first tour of Afghanistan based at Camp Bastion and confessed: "I thought it was going to be a lot harder." Private Daniel Summers, aged 22 and single from Hednesford, commented: "I did not know what to expect because this is the first time I have deployed here. I just cracked on and did what I was told.

"I have enjoyed it because I was desperate to get on the last tour of 3Mercian and seize the final opportunity to serve in Afghanistan."

Private Matt Grice, 19, whose parents Sarah and Andrew live in Lichfield, only joined the battalion in September 2011 and is on his first tour. He said: "I was determined to come because it was my last chance to get to Afghanistan."

Dave Gouldingay, the 55-year-old assistant secretary of the Staffordshire Regimental Association branch in Lichfield, where the battalion is expected to stage its last parade in the summer, said: "It will be a sad moment for many of us with close links to The Staffords. We all want to be there with them on the last day. It will be the last leg of the journey and another leaf in the history book of the famous Staffordshire Regiment. 3Mercian still have a tie with The Staffords but I am still unsure how that legacy will continue after the next change."

Mr Gouldingay, who served with The Staffords during a 16 year Army career, continued: "The iconic words 'The Staffords' will now just be contained in a large bracket with a lot of other former Regiments in the full title of the 1 and 2Mercian. That will not be the same as it used to be and will water down the legacy still further." The Staffords started life as the 38th Regiment of Foot that was raised at the Kings Head in Lichfield in 1705. It later became the North and South Staffords, which amalgamated to form The Staffordshire Regiment in 1959.

This became the 3rd Battalion Mercian Regiment (3Mercian) after another reorganisation of the Army in 2007. 3Mercian will merge with the 1st and 2nd Battalions Mercian Regiment in the summer but Lt Col Davies insisted: "Both will have the name of the Staffords in their title.

"This is not the death of the old Staffords. It is the birth of two new ones each with Staffordshire soldiers in them." The troops and families will leave their current barracks in Germany next summer and move to join either 1Mercian in Bulford or 2Mercian at its new HQ in Chester. But there will be an emotional homecoming for 3Mercian before disbandment.

They will exercise their right to march through places in the West Midlands and Staffordshire where they have been granted the freedom of the town or city one last time after their return from Afghanistan. The battalion's colours will then be laid up in Lichfield Cathedral alongside those of the former Staffordshire Regiment.

Tomorrow: More exclusive reports from the front line