Battalion that lost 13 men returns from Afghanistan

Published on Saturday 24 October 2009 19:55

SOLDIERS from a battalion that lost 13 men in Afghanistan returned to their UK base yesterday for an emotional reunion with their families.

The troops from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles are stationed at Abercorn Barracks in Ballykinler, County Down, Northern Ireland.

In July, five men from the battalion lost their lives within 24 hours. The incident was seen as a particularly low point for the Army in Afghanistan. They died in two separate blasts while on foot patrol near Sangin, Helmand province.

Major Alistair Field, wounded in the attacks on 10 July, said it was a horrendous day.

He described how his unit was caught up in an explosion while on its way to carry out a joint patrol with the Afghan national army.

He told the BBC that one rifleman was killed outright, and several others – including himself – injured.

"And then about half an hour later, as another call sign came to help with the casualties, they were caught in another 'daisy chain' (the term for lots of explosions occurring at once] and another four riflemen were killed."

Major Field said the returning troops would be relieved to get back to their loved ones after such a dangerous tour.

"The feeling of being reunited with your family, knowing that everything is going to be all right, is just brilliant," he said.