by Richard Kemp
21. Major Dominic Biddick explains the purpose of Lastay Kulang to local elders during the operation. The Royal Anglians made great efforts to engage with the locals as part of the ‘battle for consent’.
22. Operation Ghartse Ghar. 3 Platoon A Company pause during the night insertion.
23. Major Dominic Biddick, centre, briefs his O group in a lie-up position just prior to H hour for Operation Ghartse Ghar. Left is Lieutenant Nick Denning, right, Lieutenant Graham Goodey.
24. Major Mick Aston, B Company commander, on Operation Ghartse Ghar.
25. Major Dominic Biddick, left, sharing a joke with his signals detachment commander, Corporal Dinger Bell. Operation Ghartse Ghar.
26. Private Nickie Whaites, A Company, feeding link to GPMG gunner Private Mark Stephens, in contact during Operation Ghartse Ghar.
27. B Company soldiers treating a wounded comrade during Operation Ghartse Ghar. An RPG had bounced off Private Thompson’s chest plate and exploded among his section.
28. A Royal Engineers officer oversees work on an irrigation project in the upper Sangin valley. The village elders seated on the bank had requested assistance to improve the irrigation ditches serving their crops.
29. Lieutenat Colonel Stuart Carver, Royal Anglian Battle Group commander, in Sangin bazaar
30. A Company Group HQ in the Sangin DC. On the roof is a sangar covered by a camouflage net. The sangar was used for observation and also had machine-guns and other weapon systems.
31. Lance Corporal Kisby, left and Private Symonds of A Company treat a wounded local in Sangin DC.
32. Mural painting in Sangin DC.
33. Remains of phonecard cart used by the Taliban to kill Afghan police in Sangin. The explosion also killed a ten-year-old boy who had been told to push the cart into position. Sergeant Tiger Gardner deployed on to the ground as part of the immediate response.
34. A Company air assault. A CH47 Chinook, used in Afghanistan for troop and cargo lift and CASEVAC.
35. A Company air assault.
36. C Company troops’ accommodation at FOB Inkerman. Corporal Bomber Brown seated second from left, Sergeant Spud Armon standing with a brew.
37. Fire Support Group Delta in FOB Inkerman, one of their WMIKS in the background. On the right is Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins, who was later killed in a mine attack on his Vector. Second from left is Private Harry McCabe, who dragged Hawkins from the wrecked vehicle and gave immediate first aid. On the left is Private Peter Howell, who was in the Inkerman FSG tower during the attack in which Captain Hicks was killed.
38. A section from 11 Platoon C Company prepare to move during a patrol near FOB Inkerman. Second man is Minimi gunner Private Tony Rawson, who was killed in a vicious firefight with the Taliban shortly after this photograph was taken.
39. Private Rawson, centre, with his fire team, taking five minutes out during a long patrol near FOB Inkerman. On the left is platoon sharpshooter Private Vaughan with his L96 sniper rifle.
40. Captain David Hicks MC, acting company commander of C Company at Inkerman. Hicks was subsequently killed during a violent attack against the FOB on 11 August.
41. Royal Anglian 81mm mortar team fire mission. The mortars provided the only guaranteed, immediate indirect fire support to the battle group wherever they went.
42. Royal Artillery 105mm Light Gun firing in support of the Royal Anglian Battle Group.
43. 105mm Light Gun detachment firing from FOB Robinson. The guns were based in Robinson but also frequently deployed into the desert to support battle group operations.
44. Lance Corporal Tom Mann observes through his sniper scope. To his right, an Afghan interpreter monitors a radio scanner to intercept Taliban communications.
45. Troops sort out their kit in a break during a Mastiff patrol.
46. Lance Corporal Tom Mann and Private Dan Gent, battalion snipers, prepare to engage a Taliban command team near FOB Inkerman. The irrigation ditch allowed them to move undetected close to the Taliban fighters.
47. Private Robert Foster, B Company, taking time out in a compound during an operation. Foster would later be tragically killed in an airstrike at Mazdurak.
48. Private Booth and Private Foster, right, at the back of a Viking.
49. Privates Aaron McLure, left, and Josh Lee in the back of a Viking. McLure was killed and Lee wounded in an airstrike at Mazdurak.
50. Private John Thrumble and his beloved machine-gun, ‘Mary’. Thrumble was also killed at Mazdurak.
51. Privates Josh Lee, left, and John Thrumble, centre, and Corporal Stuart Parker. Parker and his section saw some of the battle group’s most intensive fighting, and he was later seriously wounded.
52. Private Josh Lee, left, and Private Rich Barke at the field hospital in Camp Bastion following the airstrike at Mazdurak. Lee was later CASEVACed to Selly Oak Hospital with his section commander, Corporal Stuart Parker.
53. B Company section in contact with the Taliban at Kajaki. The red and yellow ‘Minden Flash’, worn by all members of the Royal Anglian 1st Battalion, dates back to a recognition badge used in World War II
54. Personal equipment laid out on a camp bed ready for packing prior to Operation Palk Ghar. Note the yellow hand-held GPS navigation system, five darkgreen high-explosive 51mm mortar bombs and one light-green smoke bomb, and the Bowman secure radio at the far end of the bed.
55. A Company night foot insertion from Sangin to the line of departure for Operation Palk Ghar.
56. Firing UGL rifle 40mm grenade
57. C Company Viking resupply at the end of Operation Palk Ghar day one.
58. Royal Anglian Sniper Platoon, Operation Palk Law. Back row, third from right is Private Oliver Bailey, fourth from right Private Clay Donnachie. Front row, second from left is Lance Corporal Tom Mann and second from right Lance Corporal Teddy Ruecker.
Honours and Awards
The following members of The 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment were recognized in the operational awards list immediately following the tour in Afghanistan.
Distinguished Service Order
Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Carver
Military Cross
Lance Corporal Levi Ashby
Major Michael Aston
Major Dominic Biddick MBE
Captain David Hicks
Corporal Robert Moore
Lance Corporal Oliver Ruecker
Queen’s Gallantry Medal
Private Luke Nadriva
Mention in Dispatches (for operational gallantry)
Sergeant Steve Armon
Major Philip Messenger
Warrant Officer Class 2 Kevin Main
Warrant Officer Class 2 Timothy Newton
Sergeant Simon Panter
Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service
Captain Phillip Blanchfield
Joint Commander’s Commendations
Lance Corporal Mark Armstrong
Private Oliver Bailey
Corporal Andrew Brown
Private Matthew Duffy
Private Derwin Edwards
Private Anthony Freeman
Private Jordan Gibbs
Lieutenant Graham Goodey
Private Matthew Johnson
Private Josh Lee
Private Fabio Oliviero
Lieutenant Samuel Perrin
Corporal Ian Peyton
Lance Corporal Alistair Proctor
Corporal William Roberts
Captain George Seal-Coon
Commander British Forces Commendations
Corporal Ryan Alexander
Staff Sergeant John Beighton
Captain Mark Bevin
Sergeant Dale Booth
Lance Corporal Matthew Boyle
Private Thomas Brace
Lance Corporal Ian Brown
Sergeant William Browning
Sergeant Michael Butcher
Corporal James Davies
Lance Corporal Karl Ehret
Sergeant Adrian Evans<
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Corporal Darren Farrugia
Colour Sergeant Andrew Faupel
Corporal Shaun Fosker
Sergeant Stuart Gardner
Corporal Simon Goodchild
Private Christopher Gray
Corporal Ashley Hill
Sergeant Christopher Holmes
Private Martin Hughes
Gunner Thomas Hughes
Corporal Dean Johnson
Lance Corporal John King
Private Harrison McCabe
Private Stephen Moore
Colour Sergeant Stephen Neal
Private Clinton Odell
Captain Oliver Ormiston
Sergeant Edward Owen
Corporal Stuart Parker
Drummer Dean Prior
Warrant officer Class 2 Peter Ramm
Lance Corporal Michael Robinson
Lieutenant Bjorn Rose
Private Neil Sayce
Warrant Officer Class 2 James Self
Private Allen Sheppard
Staff Sergeant Graham Shorthouse
Captain Robert Smit
Captain Paul Steel
Captain Mark Taylor
Corporal Peter Toynton
Lance Corporal Antony Warwick
Sergeant Matthew Waters
Captain Andrew Wilde
Private Michael Williamson
Private Robert Wright
The following members of The 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment were recognized in subsequent honours lists, for their contribution to the battalion’s Afghanistan tour.
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Captain Ian John Robinson (formerly regimental sergeant major)
Major Dean Stefanetti
Order of Battle
Key
AGC: Adjutant General’s Corps.
APTC: Army Physical Training Corps.
Coldm Gds: Coldstream Guards.
ETS: Education and Training Services.
Gib Regt: Gibraltar Regiment.
Gren Gds: Grenadier Guards.
Int Corps: Intelligence Corps.
PWRR: Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.
R Irish: Royal Irish Regiment.
R Signals: Royal Signals.
RAChD: Royal Army Chaplains’ Department.
RAMC: Royal Army Medical Corps.
REME: Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Rifles: The Rifles (infantry regiment).
RLC: Royal Logistic Corps.
RRF: Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Scots: Royal Regiment of Scotland.
SPS: Staff and Personnel Support.
Yorks: Yorkshire Regiment.
Commanding Officer: Lt Col. SW Carver
Regimental Sergeant Major: WOI Robinson IJ
A (Norfolk) Company
Company Headquarters
Maj DSJ Biddick MBE
Capt GDR Hudson
Capt PR Steel
Lt D Pozo (Gib Regt)
WO2 Main K
WO2 Smith S
Sgt Manning AE (PWRR)
Cpl Bell C
Cpl Bonner DW (Killed in Action)
Cpl Hannam TRD (R Sigs)
Cpl Thompson AT (Australian Army)
Cpl Walker M
LCpl Morfitt DJ
LCpl Duckett JM
Pte Dodds O
Pte Graves A
Pte Holt T
Pte Ranns RS
Pte Simons
Pte Sivewright C
Pte Theobald G
Pte Turner BN
1 Platoon
Lt NGV Denning
Sgt Holmes CJ
Cpl Brooks CA
Cpl Davies JR
Cpl Field SR
LCpl Chatfield SPM
LCpl Coleby PJ
LCpl Murray DP
Pte Broom C
Pte Brown AJ
Pte Burgess DA
Pte Chapman GJ
Pte Charlesworth M
Pte Ellis BE
Pte Gillasbey ALP (Gib Regt)
Pte Hardy SH
Pte Harrison CA
Pte Hill CA
Pte Holden L (Gib Regt)
Pte Hornigold KH
Pte Hicks SD
Pte Mathieson S
Pte Meighan KJ
Pte Oliviero F
Pte Pozo NPR (Gib Regt)
Pte Redford S
Pte Richardson RM
Pte Rolph IJ
Pte Slater M
Pte Taylor AR
Pte Williams JD
Pte Wills SJ
2 Platoon
Lt GJ Goodey
2Lt HJ Willies
Sgt Butcher MJ
Cpl Alexander RC
Cpl Hazell CG
Cpl Sawasdee N (RRF)
LCpl Johnson T
LCpl Mercer NA (Gren Gds)
LCpl Penwright OP (Gren Gds)
LCpl van der Merwe WJ
Pte Bigmore MS
Pte Bowman JA
Pte Brace TD
Pte Carter C
Pte Chumbley LA
Gdsm Crook DK (Gren Gds)
Pte Fisher CL
Pte Flegg DF
Pte Glover AR
Gdsm Harrison CA (Gren Gds)
Pte Hassell NF
Gdsm Hastings L (Gren Gds)
Pte Illsley SE
Pte Johnson AJ
Gdsm Keeley KJ (Gren Gds)
Gdsm Lee OT (Gren Gds)
Pte Marano J
Pte Ndego MN
Pte Nicholls SM
Pte Njie ML
Pte Okotie OT
Pte Smith KAG
Pte Smits SPD
Pte Stephens MTC
Gdsm Tipping B (Gren Gds)
Pte Ward ALW
Pte Whaites N
3 Platoon
Lt BES Rose
Sgt Panter SI
Cpl Moore RW
LCpl Findley T
LCpl Fish TA
LCpl Garner DA
LCpl Green PJ
LCpl Kisby CS (Yorks)
LCpl Marley NA
Pte Appleton M
Pte Bridges MJ
Pte Burkard AET
Pte Casey PJ
Pte Clarke AS
Pte Cowley TR
Pte Copperwheat AJ
Pte Croft T
Pte Duffy NJT
Pte Feltham B
Pte Flanagan DA
Pte Giles CS
Pte Goodwin C
Pte Gray C (Killed in Action)
Pte Hammond MP
Pte Jarrad DK
Pte Johnson GP
Pte Jones RC
Pte Leonardi MP
Pte McLeod JAA
Pte Osborn TJ
Pte Roberts BL
Pte Ryan TJP
Pte Scrivener BD
Pte Stringer M
Pte Symonds LA
Pte Ward AJ
FSG A
CSgt Faupel A
Cpl Meadows LG
Cpl Smith PA
Cpl Watts G
LCpl Evans AM
LCpl Flight MC
LCpl Magee B
LCpl Silvey RW
LCpl Terry AJ
LCpl Willian M
Pte Bailey OJ
Pte Burrnell CM
Dmr Deigan RA
Pte Donnachie CJ
Pte Long JL
Pte Mason DAK
Dmr Pegrum RN
Dmr Railton JB
Pte Wallace DW
B (Suffolk) Company
Company Headquarters
Maj M Aston
Maj AHC Borgnis
Capt DJ Robinson
WO2 Newton TR
CSgt Shand CS
Sgt Hartland C
Cpl Dickenson MJ (R Sigs)
Cpl Naylor JMH
LCpl Jackson N
LCpl Lambell JS
LCpl Stuczynski DG (Gren Gds)
Pte Coram CEJ
Pte Haldenby J
Pte Ha
ndley R
Pte McCluskey PJ
Pte McIIroy IS
Pte O’ Dell CM
Pte Whatley TS
5 Platoon
2Lt BJ Howes
CSgt Nieves K
Sgt Canepa R (Gib Regt)
Cpl Mason TB
Cpl Thorne SJ
LCpl Blewett BW
LCpl Cooledge AD
LCpl Davey G (Killed in Action)
LCpl McCall R
LCpl Swindells SJ (Yorks)
LCpl Tower J
Pte Anderson MD
Pte Arnott RT
Pte Corless SA
Pte Cox TA
Pte Galliano MR (Gib Regt)
Pte George CJ
Pte Heirsher J
Pte Hill JP
Pte Humphrey BJ
Pte Lingley M
Pte Lizzi SM
Pte McKendrick C
Pte Monks C
Pte Nadriva LC
Pte Rix J
Pte Rogers SM
Pte Rushen-Smith P
Pte Scott JS
Pte Shea D
Pte Shirley CB
Pte Sheppard AJ
Pte Smith 70 D
Pte Waghorne GA
Pte White GA
6 Platoon
Capt DN Broomfield
2Lt MO Driver
Sgt Browning WB
Sgt Owen JE
Cpl Adlington JW
Cpl George G
Cpl Murphy J
LCpl Ashby LD
LCpl Hunt KJ
LCpl Kennedy P
LCpl Murphy J
Pte Archer AF
Pte Battison PMR (Gib Regt)
Pte Bradbury M
Pte Bramman SC
Pte Day MS
Pte Dickerson PJ
Pte Down CL
Pte Drane AP