We expect to take casualties

Reid sends ill equipped troops to certain deaths in S Afghanistan wrote Lord Patel January 2006

"Defence Secretary "Dr" John Reid met some of the troops due to die (We expect to take casualties)in Afghanistan. In a nationwide 2 bases *Salisbury Plain , Dittingham Norfolk, and Otterburn) exercise 3 Para are part of the 3,300 army personnel are due to go to the lawless southern region of the country.

They will help provide a "stable environment for reconstruction and help the government gain control of the more troubled areas" it says on this press release here."

Some mother's son

19-year-old Private Chris Gray from Leicester was on a routine patrol in Helmand province with the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian regiment when he came under small arms fire and became the 53rd UK soldier to die in action in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence said it took place after troops challenged a Taleban team trying to set up an ambush. He was based near the town of Now Zad, in north-west Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

Pte Gray joined the British Army just over a year ago.

"Jimmy", an 18 year old , a member of our pigeon racing club, with 9 months in Signals is off there in a few weeks. He is wildly excited at the prospect.