NAVY NEWS, MAY 2007 23
● Ears on the upper deck... (Above) Troops of
Juliet Company, 42 Cdo, blast a hole in the
walls of a Taleban compound in Sangin and
(below) commandos with ILAW rockets lay
green smoke for friendly forces
Pictures: Cpl Adrian Harlen, RLC
for Royal Marines
allowing 11 permanent Holmes stressed.
checkpoints – “The Taleban
effectively mini police were bold at times
stations – to be set up to but no match for
safeguard Babaji. highly-trained Royal
OMLT trainer Capt Marines,” he declared.
Matthew Williams RM said
“We took the fi ght to
the Afghan troops had made
the Taleban – in their
visible progress under British
backyard, in their
tutelage.
sanctuary. We operated
“The highlight of my tour has
in terrain they know inside-
been finding out that the Afghan
out, where they thought
National Army which we helped
they were safe, and we put
train had captured a key Taleban
them on the back foot.”
leader – this really shows the
progress that has been made,”
The Taleban have been driven
said Capt Williams. “It’s really
out of the southern town of
gratifying to see.”
Garmsir and Kajaki, where
As for the Royals’ overall mission
restoring a dam and hydro-electric
since arriving in Helmand province
power is vital to Helmand’s future
last autumn, the commandos are
prosperity, and progress is being
convinced that their tour of duty
made in Sangin.
has, despite some tragic losses,
“The men of 3 Commando
succeeded on many fronts.
Brigade – and the wider UK
The aim throughout has been
task force – have, to my mind,
consistent: to drive out the insur-
performed exceptionally, whether
in combat, in support duties or in
gents and allow normal life to
the reconstruction effort,” said Lt
resume – to help provide an
Col Rory Bruce of Brigade HQ.
alternative, as Lt Col Holmes,
“They have taken the fi ght to
42 Commando’s Commanding
the Taleban with considerable
Officer, put it “to misery and
success – it has been a successful
death” under Taleban rule.
tour.”
Back at base in Bickleigh, near
Lt Col Holmes agrees: “The
Plymouth, Lt Col Holmes, praised
lads were inspirational, repeatedly
the bravery and resolve of his
going into action after seeing
men – and the support they had
their colleagues injured in heavy
received from home during their
fighting.”
gruelling tour of duty.
Brig Thomas formally handed
The ranks of 42 are four
over command of UK forces
thinner today than they were last and the Royals’ headquarters at
September: three of its number Lashkar Gar to Brig John Lorimer
were killed in action and a fourth as 12 Mechanised Brigade took
died following a traffic accident. over peacekeeping duties from the
They did not die in vain, Lt Col green berets.
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