An hour after dawn the soldier picked up his leg and ran towards the explosion.
The Gurkhas of C Company, 1 YORKS advanced towards a likely IED (Improvised Explosive Device) area where a track crossed the sodden reed beds of what was supposedly Sangin District’s Green Zone. The bomb detonated, more with a crump than a bang, seconds later came the screaming of casualties. A hundred yards away on the North of the ‘Helmand River,’ 9 Platoon crouched under small arms fire, answering with quick ripping bursts from their Light Machine Guns. The Company Commander, Major Spiro Marcendontas and his men monkey-ran forwards, his Mortar Fire Controller relaying orders to the mortar line five kilometres away. 30 seconds later mortar bombs split the air and smashed the ground around the enemy. The deeper hammering of the General Purpose Machine Gun joined the firing line, whilst the casualties were dealt with in order of priority.
1 YORKS returned from Op TELIC 13 in May and is now concentrating on training for what lies ahead. But in a change to a 50 year old doctrine, within the last three months the Army has directed that routine training exercises replicate the war in Afghanistan less a possible future war against a generic enemy. The Infantry Field Firing Camp at Sennelager, and especially the finale of the live company attacks has put this into action. Capt Liam Purbrick of Battalion Headquarters, acting as safety supervisor on the range, explained, “This is a pivotal training event. It’s cementing the change in our organisation which has seen us welcome a Gurkha Reinforcement Company as our new C Company, and is entirely orientated towards operations in Afghanistan.”
The Battalion has gone to considerable lengths to set the picture. The night before the attack the Company Commander received orders from the CO warning of the threat from IEDs and suicide bombers as well as the need to persuade the locals that 1 YORKS have more to offer than the Taliban.
After a few hours in a soggy wood, the company spent the night snaking on foot through ‘Helmand Province’ loaded with the mortar ammunition, 7.62 rounds for the GPMG, radios, and medical kit. The mortar rounds were dropped at the mortar line, as light role infantry rather than armoured it is by foot that the ammunition arrives in position. The soldiers continued on their 10km insertion tab to rendez vous with Recce Platoon who had been out all night covertly assessing enemy positions. Recce Platoon lead the company forward to a previously identified ‘line of departure‘ and at H hour the sound of light drizzle was contrasted with the crack of GPMG fire and mortars as the assault got underway. By lunch time all enemy positions had been destroyed and the mission was complete. Weary soldiers trudged back to the harbour area for a well earned lunch, this annual event was now over but on operations in Afghanistan, this would be considered just a normal day at the office.
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Gütersloh 
