TAs take on Taliban in first battle
Saturday 27th June 2009, 2:37PM BST.
Territorial Army soldiers from the West Midlands have fought their first battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Express & Star can reveal today.
The baptism of fire came near Lashkar Gah in trouble-torn Helmand Province. A patrol from the 4th Mercian Regiment’s Normandy Company were attacked with mortars and small arms fire but fought back and put the enemy to flight.
They suffered no casualties during the fire fight that is thought to have lasted less than half an hour and it is unclear if they killed or wounded any of the enemy.
The regiment is made up of TA units from throughout the West Midlands and Staffordshire. Lt Col Martyn Forgrave, 4th Mercian Commanding Officer, said: “This is the first time that they have been in direct contact with the enemy and they acquitted themselves extremely well as you would have expected.
“This demonstrates the utility and relevance of the TA and is further proof of the close support they give to the regular Army.
“They are now an integral part of the operation and indistinguishable from other troops. They are fully trained for the role and would not be sent into action unless those in authority were confident that they could deliver the goods.”
A member of the TA’s Normandy Company recently brought a wounded soldier back from the dead in an unconnected incident while offering security and support on a Medivac mission to the front line. Lance Corporal Ashley Scriven, aged 20, from Birmingham restarted the breathing of the injured man.
Lt Col Forgrave explained: “He was responsible for saving a soldier’s life by conducting chest compression.”
The fire fight on Wednesday afternoon came shortly after half the 120-strong Normandy Company switched to new duties.
They began patrols with the Welsh Guards and the Afghan Army in the ‘green zone’ where the Taliban are more active after previously spending most of their time protecting Camp Bastion.
Lt Col Forgrave, who has spent 23 years in the regular army with the Cheshire Regiment serving in the Balkans, Northern Ireland and East Africa, added: “There is a higher threat profile with the new role but they have been fully trained for it.”
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All credit to the lads – I hope everyone in the West Mids is proud of them….but I doubt it. I’m sure that there are many who would prefer to support the 7th Century doctrine of the fascist Taliban.
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All the best lads, my prayers are with you!
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Well done the TA Mercians, all those weekends and annual camps you gave up and could have spent with your families but for the sake of your country you have done yourselves “PROUD” come back safe and well. EX CPL Bryan Jones 1 Mercian Volunteers.
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Such a shame those in power like to use the army as cannon fodder, to kill or be killed, to fight unlawful and unjust wars.
Under taliban law, they were destroying the opium poppy and having an impact on the heroin trade worldwide. Enough of the media lies and myths. The news is not news anymore but more like a soap opera.
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It’s funny how it is always the UK and USA going into and invading other countries, not other countries coming into and invading the USA or UK. Who are the real terrorists?
You destroy their countries and then when they start to flood the UK as refugees fleeing from war torn countries, much of the population has the cheek to complain.
Support peace not war.
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The main problem is the USA. It has always thought it rules the world and all other countries should do as it says. It is powerful and can do what it wants if if needs to and thats what causes alot of the trouble in the middle east.
Good luck to our troops although i feel they shouldn’t be there at all. If they beat the taliban there will still be terrorists around. They are already on our doorsteps just waiting for the green light!
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oh please, more people die from peanut allergies than terrorism….fact!
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Lots of people suffered from peanut allergy the day the twin towers fell-Or was that terrorism?
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My husband is serving with the platoon in this story, and i think Michelle to compare a peanut allergy to our men at war getting killed is childish and unsympathetic.
I have 3 children and my husband is risking his life to defend the freedom of our country for people like you, think before you speak!!!
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No. 8 – Most people are not even aware that 3 towers collapsed in the world trade center complex that day, towers 1,2 and 7. The BBC reported on live tv that tower 7 collapsed 20 minutes before it did. The reporter says its just collapsed but you can see it in the background still standing.
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No.9 – Claire your Husband is going into another country to kill. He is not fighting for my freedom. He is fighting because he is property of the military, he is programmed to obey orders. It is the people in the third world countries that are being invaded who are fighting for freedom.
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And your point Michelle is????
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Michelle T, Do you know the rules of engagement or the reasons that we have been “invited” to stay in the region to support and help rebuild the country in a peace keeping and training role. ISAF are only allowed to shoot at a target if they are defending themselves or civilians. My fiance also serves with Claires husband and you obviously know nothing about the Territorial Army – they are a VOLUNTEER force. They serve their country at no extra financial benefit,as their wages are matched by the Government, they sacrafice their time and risk their lives to protect the country they love inspite of ignorant people like you!!! The so called fact that more people die of nut allergies than terrorism! I suggest you get googling love all the acts of terrorism that happen everyday. People as closed minded and pathetic as you actually provoke disgust, saddness and sympathy in my heart. I’m just glad that we live in a country where people like you have the right to voice such stupid opinions!!! And as for the guys and that one in particular I could not be more proud of you and I look forward to seeing you all at the end of your tour xxx
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The troops are doing an amazing job and everyone should have 100% respect for them. very proud of you all, keep safe xx
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Michelle..we are all allowed to have an opinion and you have you right to have yours. Its a shame you dont fully understand.. maybe a day out there spent with the afghanistan people who are murdered on a hourly basis by the taliban and ask them how they feel about our soldiers who fight and die to protect them. My husband follows the rules of engagement and has never shot anyone until he has been shot at first. Lets hope you dont ever need the protection of our soldiers back here in the uk maybe then the freedom you clearly take for granted will be viewed differently.
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I have 100% faith n respect in our guys n girls who are doin an amazin job out there. Avin been brought up in army life n voluntered 2 do 6 months in iraq i know how hard n dangerous there jobs are. People who Dnt understand the job our guys m girls are doin should find out facts before openin there mouths!! I am sure if u had a family member over there fightin ud have a different outlook on the subject.
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A totaly unforgiving job in a very hostile environment. I hope you don’t feel the same way about the troops in WW2 MichelleT? They did fight for your freedom. Sounds like you have got a lot of growing up to do or you have just left school!!!
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Claire Osbourne my point is your husband is killing people that have wives and children aswell. In my honest opinion, our troops should not even be over there.
You say the Taliban are killing afghanis on an hourly basis, well the Taliban are Afghanis.
Is it the same as Saddam killing his own people? Saddam kills a few thousand so Bush decides to go to war and kill a few million?
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Don’t recall Bush killing millions! Think thats an over statement Michelle. I think Brians right -you are late for school dear!!
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No. 19 – Over a million lives slaughtered in Iraq alone! Maybe you should start looking up the facts and stop watching sky news.
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No. 16 – I have friends in the army who are fighting. Many of the soldiers I have spoken to agree they went to war to catch Bin Laden and because Iraq supposedly had WMD’s.
The people our boys are killing also have wives and children and relatives. Maybe you think it’s okay for them to be killed?
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Sorry Michelle but its not bush who killed them all. I think your in a different world to us!! You should start researching your facts here are some for you to enjoy
450,000-600,000 in the iran/raq war
1000 Kuwati nationals
100,000 plus kurds
60-100,000 muslims
Over 300,000 Shias and dissidents
All these deaths were caused by the great leader of iraq. Still think we should not be there to defend the innocent??
There are currently only guess work figures of the gulf wars at approx 200,000 includes all side. So do your school work before you spout off!!!
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And who sold Saddam the weapons he used to go to war with Iran?
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Selling weapons is big business throughout the world. The weapons that were used on most of his people were chemical weapons developed by Mr Hussain and not sold by us. Both Iran and iraq were weapons financed by the western world including russia. We did not force them to go to war and we did not force them to use the weapons against each other. Remember the Falklands? Or are you too young? We sold weapons to Argentina who used them against us and invaded our soverein island!! You should research your military history a bit more if you want to play hard ball on here!!
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The US and Britain sold Saddam Hussein the technology and materials Iraq needed to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.
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