Silent fight
Our troops launch Xmas Taliban hunt
HERO Royal Marines are today fighting toe-to-toe with the Taliban in a secret blitz launched on CHRISTMAS DAY, we can reveal.
As families across the UK tucked into turkey, 1,500 troops were in ferocious combat with their dug-in enemy.
The News of the World learned of the festive offensive-the biggest since the start of Gulf War II in 2003-after we flew out to visit the Marines of 42 Commando in Helmand province.
Our 300-plus Marines are supporting Afghan National Army forces in Operation Sond Chara (Ginger Dagger).
Its latest phase involves fighting from street to street to drive Taliban insurgents from an area the size of Sheffield, close to the provincial capital Lashkar Gar.
So far they have SECURED three new bases, RECOVERED a cache of weapons including rockets and DESTROYED a ton of illegal drugs.
A top military source said: "As a result of the Marines' action, Afghan government forces now have a permanent presence in four areas where previously there was none."
Threat
The joint onslaught, due to end before New Year's Eve, was prompted by a Taliban attack on Lashkar Gah in October, which showed their fighters still posed a threat to next year's election plans.
But its start was marred by the Christmas Eve killing of Marine Lance-Cpl Benjamin Whatley, 20, during a fierce gun battle.
Shortly before his death, one senior Marines officer had warned us: "This is not something we undertake lightly. It's going to be very, very tough out there.
"It's possible some of our troops will pay a very high personal price. But it's what they are trained to do.
"It is all necessary to create a better life for the people of Helmand." Nine of our troops have been killed by home-made bombs since the latest phase of the Afghan war started on October 1. And seven more have died during firefights.
But the battle-hardened companies of 42 Commando are not deterred. We met them on Christmas Eve tucking into a curry, surrounded by festive decorations, at Camp Bastion, in Helmand. To a man, they were up for the fight.Cpl Matt Hoey, 27, from Emsworth, Hants, said: "It's what the lads are here to do."
And Lance-Cpl Mark West, 27, from Tadcaster, Yorks, added: "It may be Christmas, but for us it's just another day."
With us was Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth, on a trip to meet frontline troops in Helmand and at their forward operating base in Sangin-where four soldiers have been killed on patrol in the past fortnight.
Mr Ainsworth said: "When everyone at home woke up on Christmas morning, these guys had been facing the enemy for hours.
"And on Boxing Day they were still going, with no sleep. They're amazing."
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This article has 33 comments
Big salute to Harry Jackson and the rest of the Black Knights 42 Commando. Keep it goin lads. Safe Return Doc
By Martin Jackson ( Doc). Posted January 18 2009 at 5:06 PM.
My Brothers a R.M in 42 commando out if Afghanistan and we are extremely proud of the job he and the rest of the troops are doing.
The country needs to get behing our Armed Forces more and give them the support and recognised achievement they need and deserve.
Keep safe and 'Chin up Lads' X
By Laura. A. Posted January 14 2009 at 7:20 PM.
My son is also R.M also serving out in Afgan,there are all doing a great job out there, and i do not think there get the credit they derseve. Not only am i a proud Mum, but also proud of each and every one of those lads serving out there. Good luck boys and god bless you all.
By Jane. Posted January 14 2009 at 2:51 PM.
Cheers for all your support. Much appreciated!
By mike. Posted January 13 2009 at 6:15 PM.
Just want to say my boyfriend is out there fighting with the marines and myself and our daughter are so proud of him! he along with all the other guys are doing an amazing job and should be as proud of themselves as we are them!
By sophie. Posted January 12 2009 at 9:21 PM.
I am a frend of a royal marine and i think what they do is pure amazin! they deserve so so much! they risk their lives for our country they are truely great people! I do worry a lot bt i kno tht they are all reali strong and kno ecxactly wht they are doing. i canno't w8 for my frend o come home safely and i wish the same to all of the other marines out ther! stay safe, your families are thinking about u x
By Sam. Posted January 12 2009 at 4:46 PM.
my brother-in-law took part in this op', i just want to say how proud i am of him, and all of the people out there risking their lives to ultimately make ours safe.
all we can do is keep sending our parcels of treats to the men to keep their spirits up, and support their loved ones at home waiting for their men to return safely, i just hope that they know that they are thought of, and we are very thankfull and proud of what they are doing xxx
By carrie. Posted January 4 2009 at 9:51 PM.
I am also a Royal Marine mum and also a Royals wife,i am very proud of my son and my husband.They are trained to do this job and will say it's what i do ,but i am constantly worried i will get a knock on the door. I wish all the lads out there a peaceful New Year, and all of you come back safe, Loving mother.
By Claire Halliday. Posted January 4 2009 at 3:38 PM.
I am a RM mum and although constantly have my son on my mind worrying about him i am aslo so very proud of him and would like to take this opportunity to wish him and all those serving alongside him a peaceful new year! May they all stay safe, keeping their chins up and know that they are appreciated for their dedication! Stay safe lads and take care!!
By Deb Andrews. Posted December 31 2008 at 6:47 PM.
I am a proud Fiancee of a Royal Marine Serving in Afghan, they have it tough over there and everyday there are injurys and sometimes worse and its good to hear that what they are doing actually makes a difference, although we still worry loads it makes it a little easier to cope with knowing they are making a difference, we need to hear more stories of this to keep our spirits high. COME HOME SOON ALL OUR LADS xxx
By Nicola (Quinn). Posted December 30 2008 at 10:51 AM.
I am not a British nor anyone with me is serving in the Royal Marine. I am not a supporter of war but from the bottom of my heart, I salute you guys out there. Fighting for one beliefs is harder than running.
By Melvin. Posted December 30 2008 at 12:34 PM.
I am the proud mum of a soldier who is due to go to Afghan for the second time, i worry about him evey second of every day but i am so proud of him and all the other lads and lasses. They make me feel proud to be british. God bless each and every one of them.
By Nicola. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:59 PM.
I am also a Royal Marine mum and i would just like to say how proud i am to be a mum of a royal marine and i wish all you guys and girls all serving away from home all the best keep safe look after each other.It was so nice to read these other comments from other serving armed forces friends and families and see that they have the support they so rightly deserve from the great british public.Hello to the the Royal Marines 42 especially Benji Boy take care love you loads mam and everyone at home
By maria jones. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:36 PM.
our son is a royal marine fighting in afghanistan. we worry about him all the time but we are extremely proud of him and all his comrades. i don't think that anyone who hasn't a relative or other half in the services can understand what we go through, we worry for weeks on end knowing he is out in the "field", but then are so grateful for the 2 minute phone call from him to say "i'm ok" especially when there has been a fatality but also so so very guilty because it's another mum's son. as said previously our sons deserve the best support our country can give.
By jackie barnsley. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:08 PM.
Iam a mum of a Australia soldier fighting along side your British troops in Helmand I read with great saddness the lost of British troops and pray that not only my son comes home safely but for all of the others to return safely home as well. I will see my son in February when he comes home on leave for two weeks but the hardest part will be saying goodbye to him again.I would also like to thank the people of Britain for there wonderful parcels that not only your troops are recieving but the Aussie troops that were training at Plymonth before thay went over in October are also getting them, my son has told me all about them so I say thank-you to everyone of you for that as it makes it a little better for them knowing complete strangers care
By Yvonne Edmunds. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:01 PM.
Thanks to the news of the world for publishing this article. My son who is with 42 commando is putting his life on the line every day along with all the other troops deployed in afghanistan. It is important for us families and for them to have the support of people back home.
By Max Harrison. Posted December 28 2008 at 9:41 PM.
Hi,
I am a pensioner with no relatives in the armed forces,however, I am extremely proud to be British when I see the news articles on our brave lads and lassies,including families of same. My best wishes to all of them and to the boys in the field "Give em Hell!...Thanks for the opportunity to allow the posting of these comments of appreciation.
God bless our troops.
By allan. Posted December 28 2008 at 4:22 PM.
My grandson is a Royal Marine in Afganistan and it is about time the British public were made aware of what they are trying to achieve there along with the other nations that are also there
By marion pearce. Posted December 28 2008 at 4:18 PM.
just to ditto what everyone has wrote and i think we should here a lot more of some positive to come out of this as all we seem to hear on the news and read in the papers is negative things!!
and more praise should be given by members of the public not just us families of these brave men and women.
By sheila sykes. Posted December 28 2008 at 2:09 PM.
MY PARTNER JAMES IS OUT IN AFGHAN, WHILE I LIVE FROM DAY TO DAY OF WORRY , I AM VERY PROUD OF HIM AND ALL WHO SERVE WITH HIM, IT PAINS ME TO TURN THE NEWS ON AND HEAR OF ANY LOSS, I JUST THINK WHY DO WE POKE OUR NOSE IN , BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIEING FOR NO REASON , I'M SORRY IF THIS UPSET SOME OF YOU , BUT I SAY WHAT I FEEL LOVE TO YOU ALL JANNETTE PARTNER OF A RM
By JANNETTE CHAPPELL. Posted December 28 2008 at 2:06 PM.
We need to hear more about the good that our troops are doing in Afghanistan. We seem to be a nation against our country because we are not hearing the full story about what they are actually doing over there. British forces are trying to build a fair nation that stands on its own, its not just people fighting. More of this stuff please.
By Jo Williams. Posted December 28 2008 at 12:54 PM.
My husband is involved in the operation you mentioned. Although he cant - and never would - reveal any information about the ops they carry out, it's good to have articles like this to fill in the blanks in such a positive light, thank you.
I am so proud of him and all our troops out there and wish them a safe return and their families a New Year full of hope and happiness xxx
By laura. Posted December 28 2008 at 12:46 PM.
I also am a proud RM MUM. The heroism of all those serving needs to be continuously highlighted to the British Public. They are constantly in OUR thoughts and prayers. God bless them and their loved ones.
By Mary Packham. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:50 AM.
To all Royal Marines out there fighting the taliban, keep up your spirits, and give them hell, show the true commando spirit as you always do, you are the 'best of the best', you are our true heroes.
God Bless You. I'm so proud of you all, from an ex-booty.
By alan. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:37 AM.
Thanks for this article. I emailed this son to my who is in 42 Cdo and in this current op. I hope it will show him he is not fighting a lost cause but a vital one and that he is appreciated back in UK. Please, News of the World, keep these great reports coming.... !
By Rod. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:21 AM.
I am the mum of a soldier due to go out there next March, I am so proud of my son and all the other serving soldiers who have been out and going out to fight the Taliban, I am dreading March coming but know its what he wants to do and what he is trained for.
May god bless them all and bring them home safe.
By Linda. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:04 AM.
I'm the mum of a serving soldier due to go back out there in the New Year and I for one am proud of all our Armed Forces. GOD BLESS YOU ALL
By Janet. Posted December 28 2008 at 10:15 AM.
Just when you begin to feel ashamed of being British a news article reminds you of the brave British Army boys. We may not have the best politicians-lawmakers in the world but we most certainly have the bravest and best young soldiers.
By Aldo. Posted December 28 2008 at 9:52 AM.
I too am a RM mum and also very proud po what they are doing - apart from the obvious wish to get them all home safely, the other is that the British Press and public get behind these lads more we should be letting them know that we are all behind them and also telling the british public of the lads that are coming home with horiffic injuries and what it takes to get them back on their feet - GOD BLESS ALL YOU ROYALS who are paying such a high price for doing your dutie.
By retepzil. Posted December 28 2008 at 9:45 AM.
Corporal Hoey mentioned in your article is my Son.Those people who know Matt will know he loves everything about what The Royal Marines are, and stand for, he makes me and the rest of his family very proud.We worry and miss him every day and, as his wife Nichola says "Christmas starts when Matt comes home". Our boys really do deserve our support and thanks. Our love and thoughts go to all those serving and their families anywhere at this time.
By John Hoey. Posted December 28 2008 at 9:15 AM.
Corporal Matt Hoey, mentioned in your article, is my son in law, married to daughter Nichola just last August. She lives in a daily state of worry and concern for her new husband, whilst having to carry on with the normal routine of life. Nichola and all service families back home are also heroes in all of this conflict.
By Richard Bennett. Posted December 28 2008 at 5:55 AM.
Well said, Susan. I too am a RM mum and our worries are constant as is our pride in our brave boys who put their lives on the line every day
By Angela Knapman. Posted December 28 2008 at 1:49 AM.
My son is one of the Royal Marines fighting this battle. I worry about him constantly but ultimately I am so proud to be the parent of a Royal Marine. Our guys deserve the support of our country.
By susan shaw. Posted December 28 2008 at 12:00 AM.