5:59pm Tuesday 27th October 2009
Sussex soldier Matt Hale-Smith, 22, smiled with delight when he saw his 10-month-old daughter Skye walk for the first time as he returned home from duty He is part of A Company, The Second Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Fusiliers (2 RRF), which came home to its London base today after losing seven soldiers on a six-month tour of Afghanistan.
Their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Calder said: "All fusiliers can return proud in the knowledge that they left their little bit of Afghanistan significantly better than they found it."
The soldiers were carrying out operations in Sangin and Musa Qal'ah, in Helmand province, in a bid to improve the lives of the local population by increasing security and freedoms, a spokesman for 2 RRF said.
They faced roadside bombs, rifle and machine gun fire, as well as mortar attacks during the tour.
Major Jo Butterfill, the officer commanding A Company, said: "The quiet individual heroism displayed by the soldiers that enabled them to operate in the face of such a severe and ever-present threat will stay with me forever."
Fusilier Kieran Connolly added: "Despite the dangers we have had an amazing experience. You have to be alert 100% of the time, but after all being on operations is what you sign up for."
A spokesman for 2 RRF said their prayers remained with the families of the seven soldiers who died during the tour.
They were: Fusilier Petero "Pat" Suesue, 28, from Fiji; Corporal Joseph Etchells, 22, from Mossley, Greater Manchester; Sergeant Simon Valentine, 29, from Bedworth, Warwickshire; Fusilier Simon Annis, 22, from Salford; Fusilier Louis Carter, 18, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire; Lance Corporal James Fullarton, 24, from Coventry; and Fusilier Shaun Bush, 24, from Coventry.
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