WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
British soldiers showed just how brave, professional and stoic they are in the face of the enemy when they held off hordes of Taliban rebels for an incredible 107 days.
Their epic feat is the longest defence in modern British military history and beats all records dating back to World War II.
The British killed 200 Taliban but, incredibly, the British had NO fatalities.
107 days spent under attack
An epic defence ... Drummer Dean Fisher blazes away some of his 40,000 rounds
From TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor
in the Nowzad Valley
Southern Afghanistan
November 01, 2006
HERO British troops told last night how they held off Taliban hordes for an incredible 107 DAYS of intense fighting at a remote desert outpost.
The company of 100 men from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers withstood 149 attacks and killed more than 200 of their fanatical enemy.
Digging in ... Fusiliers make defensive trench
Their epic feat is the longest defence in modern British military history and beats all records dating back to World War Two.
While repelling daily assaults, they fired 89,000 bullets and 1,500 mortar rounds — and guided in 28 air strikes from coalition jets.
Grim humour ... Our Boys' jokey sign
Drummer Dean Fisher, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, who turned just 21 on the tour, single-handedly fired an astonishing 40,000 7.62mm machine gun rounds.
Incredibly, no Fusiliers were killed during the ferocious onslaughts. Two were badly wounded but are expected to make full recoveries. And a third lost a leg to a mine in a separate incident elsewhere.
The action took place in the lawless Northern Helmand town of Nowzad in Southern Afghanistan.
The spot, Britain’s most isolated base in the region, was swiftly dubbed “Apocalypse Nowzad” by Our Boys.
The Sun watched as the Fusiliers’ ordeal ended — when they were relieved on their Nato security mission by Royal Marines.
Apache helicopter gunships and US A10 jets blitzed enemy attackers to cover the withdrawal.
Today we reveal the soldiers’ astonishing story for the first time, with exclusive access to their own war photos.
It began on July 16 when they were tasked to hold the town’s police HQ against a fresh offensive by the resurgent Taliban.
From the moment they arrived, the men from A Company of their regiment’s 2nd Battalion were attacked daily with mortars, 107mm Chinese rockets, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), AK47 rifles and machine guns.
Close call ... Maj Swift with bullet-riddled ammo boxes while CSM Jim Greaves holds up shrapnel from a Taliban rocket. Inset, Fusilier badge
The company commander, Major Jon Swift, 33, from South London, said: “The Taliban’s intention was to drive us out of the town.
“They thought if they hit us hard, we’d leave. We didn’t. Whenever they attacked, we were all hands to the pump to repel them with every weapon we had. It was First World War style.
“They began to hit us harder and harder. We had to dig in.”
The Fusiliers occupied a second position in the town, called ANP Hill, which gave them a good view of their attackers.
Map ... where Our Boys have been fighting
They dubbed it the Dragon’s Lair, after their regimental flag — the Cross of St George, England's flag.
Nowzad’s 7,000-strong population fled. They told the Fusiliers of their hatred for the religious fanatics who taxed them heavily and invaded their homes. The enemy blew holes in the walls of the mud houses, creating rat runs to creep up on the Fusiliers.
As they did so, Corporal Brian O’Sullivan’s four-man sniper section, peering through the telescopic sights of their rifles, fought 20 deadly duels with Taliban gunmen.
Hero ... Dean Fisher
Picture: ANDY BUSH
At times the Brits had ammunition for just 24 hours left before they were urgently resupplied.
Bullets regularly whistled over troops’ heads or between their legs and rockets narrowly missed.
With dozens of close shaves behind them, the men are still struggling to believe they got out of Nowzad — which is 85 miles from the nearest reinforcements.Two mortar rounds which failed to go off would have killed at least three of the Fusiliers.
One landed in a trench 2ft from a pair manning a machine gun. The other came in 6ft from a soldier as he crouched with his pants down, going to the loo.
On another occasion, shrapnel smashed into two ammunition boxes and set off their bullets. Miraculously no one was hit.
Mortar Fire Controller Sergeant Marty Gibbons, 32, from Manchester, said: “You only have time to think about a close shave after it’s happened.
When the rounds are coming in, it’s a big adrenaline rush. You just get up again and do your job.”
Five citations for bravery medals are going forward.
Villains ... Taliban rebels
Company Sergeant Major Jim Greaves, 37, from Newcastle, said: “The teamwork among the lads was second to none. Everyone pulled together and I’m incredibly proud of all of them.”
It was another piece of illustrious gallantry to add to the annals of the regiment which famously won six VCs “before breakfast” at the 1915 Gallipoli landings.
thesun.co.uk
British soldiers showed just how brave, professional and stoic they are in the face of the enemy when they held off hordes of Taliban rebels for an incredible 107 days.
Their epic feat is the longest defence in modern British military history and beats all records dating back to World War II.
The British killed 200 Taliban but, incredibly, the British had NO fatalities.
107 days spent under attack
An epic defence ... Drummer Dean Fisher blazes away some of his 40,000 rounds
Defence Editor
in the Nowzad Valley
Southern Afghanistan
November 01, 2006
HERO British troops told last night how they held off Taliban hordes for an incredible 107 DAYS of intense fighting at a remote desert outpost.
The company of 100 men from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers withstood 149 attacks and killed more than 200 of their fanatical enemy.
Their epic feat is the longest defence in modern British military history and beats all records dating back to World War Two.
While repelling daily assaults, they fired 89,000 bullets and 1,500 mortar rounds — and guided in 28 air strikes from coalition jets.
Drummer Dean Fisher, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, who turned just 21 on the tour, single-handedly fired an astonishing 40,000 7.62mm machine gun rounds.
Incredibly, no Fusiliers were killed during the ferocious onslaughts. Two were badly wounded but are expected to make full recoveries. And a third lost a leg to a mine in a separate incident elsewhere.
The action took place in the lawless Northern Helmand town of Nowzad in Southern Afghanistan.
The spot, Britain’s most isolated base in the region, was swiftly dubbed “Apocalypse Nowzad” by Our Boys.
The Sun watched as the Fusiliers’ ordeal ended — when they were relieved on their Nato security mission by Royal Marines.
Apache helicopter gunships and US A10 jets blitzed enemy attackers to cover the withdrawal.
Today we reveal the soldiers’ astonishing story for the first time, with exclusive access to their own war photos.
It began on July 16 when they were tasked to hold the town’s police HQ against a fresh offensive by the resurgent Taliban.
From the moment they arrived, the men from A Company of their regiment’s 2nd Battalion were attacked daily with mortars, 107mm Chinese rockets, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), AK47 rifles and machine guns.
Close call ... Maj Swift with bullet-riddled ammo boxes while CSM Jim Greaves holds up shrapnel from a Taliban rocket. Inset, Fusilier badge
The company commander, Major Jon Swift, 33, from South London, said: “The Taliban’s intention was to drive us out of the town.
“They thought if they hit us hard, we’d leave. We didn’t. Whenever they attacked, we were all hands to the pump to repel them with every weapon we had. It was First World War style.
“They began to hit us harder and harder. We had to dig in.”
The Fusiliers occupied a second position in the town, called ANP Hill, which gave them a good view of their attackers.
They dubbed it the Dragon’s Lair, after their regimental flag — the Cross of St George, England's flag.
Nowzad’s 7,000-strong population fled. They told the Fusiliers of their hatred for the religious fanatics who taxed them heavily and invaded their homes. The enemy blew holes in the walls of the mud houses, creating rat runs to creep up on the Fusiliers.
As they did so, Corporal Brian O’Sullivan’s four-man sniper section, peering through the telescopic sights of their rifles, fought 20 deadly duels with Taliban gunmen.
Picture: ANDY BUSH
At times the Brits had ammunition for just 24 hours left before they were urgently resupplied.
Bullets regularly whistled over troops’ heads or between their legs and rockets narrowly missed.
With dozens of close shaves behind them, the men are still struggling to believe they got out of Nowzad — which is 85 miles from the nearest reinforcements.Two mortar rounds which failed to go off would have killed at least three of the Fusiliers.
One landed in a trench 2ft from a pair manning a machine gun. The other came in 6ft from a soldier as he crouched with his pants down, going to the loo.
On another occasion, shrapnel smashed into two ammunition boxes and set off their bullets. Miraculously no one was hit.
Mortar Fire Controller Sergeant Marty Gibbons, 32, from Manchester, said: “You only have time to think about a close shave after it’s happened.
When the rounds are coming in, it’s a big adrenaline rush. You just get up again and do your job.”
Five citations for bravery medals are going forward.
Company Sergeant Major Jim Greaves, 37, from Newcastle, said: “The teamwork among the lads was second to none. Everyone pulled together and I’m incredibly proud of all of them.”
It was another piece of illustrious gallantry to add to the annals of the regiment which famously won six VCs “before breakfast” at the 1915 Gallipoli landings.
thesun.co.uk
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