Soldiers at Dreghorn Barracks gear up for action in Afghanistan

The Royal Scots Borderers – the modern successor of Edinburgh's famous Royal Scots – are in mourning for two of their own.

The pair were in the final weeks of their six-month tour of duty when they were killed by a roadside bomb as they carried out a foot patrol near Sangin, in the north of the war-torn Helmand region.

Their deaths were the first casualties suffered by the 1 Scots' 100-strong Bravo company since their arrival in Afghanistan last autumn.

The news was delivered to Dreghorn as 450 soldiers focus on their imminent departure for Helmand, where they will play a key role readying the Afghan National Security Forces to take responsibility for the country's security.

At Lashkar-Ghar, in central Helmand, their base will be around 100km from where their comrades died on Sunday.

Their departure marks the culmination of months of specialist training, although nothing can quite prepare them for what lies ahead.

While their whole working lives are geared up to this moment, even the utmost professionalism cannot shield them from the pain of losing their brothers in arms.

Speaking just before news of the casualties reached Dreghorn, Lieutenant Jamie Swinstead summed up the uncertainty ahead.

"We've all been training intensively to become one efficient, coherent unit, but despite this training we could still be totally unprepared," he said.

"Training can be rendered useless very quickly because the enemy are always changing their tactics – we come up with different ways, and they come up with counter ways.

"It's their home turf and they can work us out, meaning we often have to revert to different tactics. Training we learned in the morning could be redundant by the afternoon.

"We're the ones playing catch-up here."

It's Lt Swinstead's first posting to Afghanistan, following intensive training over the past six months, much of it in Kenya, covering such skills as the best way to conduct an arrest, dealing with casualties and capturing the enemy.

"This time round we've trained as Operational Mentoring and Liason Teams, which offers a different tactic because we're in smaller groups of ten men rather than a platoon of 30 men," he said. "It means we're more a Jack-of-all-trades soldier than specialists, which will hopefully count in our favour."

He and his colleagues readily admit to worries about the deaths of so many British soldiers in Afghanistan in recent months.

A total of 255 British servicemen and women have now died since operations began in October 2001, equalling the British death toll in the Falklands War.

The mood at Dreghorn, though, is settled and determined, with the soldiers' minds firmly focused on the job ahead.

Their tone reflects that of Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, who spoke on Sunday of the need to "hold our resolve" while warning of a "very real risk" of further British casualties during a major assault on militants around the town of Marjah in Helmand.

While the 1 Scots will not play a direct role in the Operation Moshtarak offensive, they will face the enemy for up to 12 hours a day for six months.

Their base at Lashkar-Ghar is in the provincial capital, an area rich in poppy fields, where troops previously stationed have attempted to blend in with the locals by growing beards.

They will work alongside local troops, mentoring them in how to carry out their potentially deadly duties.

At Dreghorn, Lance Corporal John Thomson and his colleague Lieutenant David Duffus are preparing for their return to a war zone.

It is his wife and three young sons who are on LCpl Thomson's mind as he thinks about the months ahead.

"David and I have fought in Iraq before, but it doesn't make leaving any easier and it doesn't make them any less nervous," he says.

"We get used to leaving, it's second nature to us, but our wives and kids get apprehensive. All you can do is try to reassure them that you've just got to do your job. You promise you'll get home safely soon.

"In a strange way you don't even like to contact home.

"It's a bit of a double-edged sword, because you miss your family but then when you talk to them it distracts you.

"It's not the kind of job where you can allow your mind to drift. You're tackling a whole different world."

Lt Duffus added: "Of course you feel nervous, but this is what you signed up to do. That thought has to stay at the front of your mind. We're confident our training will get us through."

The soldiers began with a six-month training scheme in Kenya, before moving on to mission specific training, and are now running through their final test exercises.

Early next month they will fly to Afghanistan with hundreds of colleagues from the RAF intelligence services, Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, and other UK forces.

Private David Affleck, who fought in Iraq in 2008, knows the six months ahead will throw up many hardships.

"Although we've already been abroad to fight before, every place is different. It's quite a change too, a shock to the system. You have to get used to a different place and a different life," he said, aware of the impact of being away from family and friends.

"It leaves a huge gap in your life. Everybody back here is going through the norm, but you know nothing about your home. Life carries on while you're sort of in limbo and you have to catch up."

HOTEL HOSTS FUNDRAISING EVENT

AS THE troops prepare to head to Afghanistan, they are not forgotten at home in the Capital.

In their honour, an exclusive charity event takes place on Friday at The One Below, at the Rutland Hotel, to raise funds for the Help For Heroes charity.

The event, which runs from 5pm to 9pm, includes a champagne reception and cocktails.

There will also be DJ sets, as well as a luxury raffle hosted by Forth One DJ Grant Stott, featuring prizes courtesy of Harvey Nichols, Mulberry, One Spa, The Balmoral, Charlie Miller, Bedlam Paint Ball, RBS 6 Nations Rugby, Boudiche, Gusto Restaurant and Bar, The Rutland Hotel, Jenners and John Lewis, among others.

The full ticket price of 15 will go to the charity.

To buy a ticket, visit www.helpforheroesfundraiser.eventbrite.com