Sgt Craig Brelsford, of the Mercian Regiment, died during a fierce battle with the Taliban as he bravely led a platoon back into enemy fire to help save his fallen comrades.
Heroic soldier killed in daring mission as he tried to save his fallen comrades in Afghanistan
10th September 2007
Daily Mail
THE MERCIAN REGIMENT
A British soldier died trying to rescue his fallen comrades in one of the fiercest battles with the Taliban so far in southern Afghanistan.
Sgt Craig Brelsford, 25, was killed as he led a platoon back into heavy enemy fire in a battle described as the "most intense and frightening" experienced in the past six months.
He and his men fought their way back to find the body of Private Johan Botha, also 25, who had been fatally wounded in an eight-hour battle outside Garmisir in Helmand province.
Sgt Craig Brelsford, right, returned to battle to try and rescue Pte Johan Botha, left
They also rescued three other injured colleagues and were able to get them back to a position where they could be helicoptered out to a field hospital at Camp Bastion.
One of the rescued soldiers is seriously injured although the others are expected to survive.
The two soldiers killed in the battle were from A Company of the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
Just five days earlier two other soldiers from the same regiment were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb.
Sgt Brelsford, from Nottingham, who was eight days away from his 26th birthday, was praised today by his company commander for "exceptional courage and selfless commitment".
Pte Botha, from South Africa, was on his first tour of duty and had been recommended for promotion.
Lt Col Charlie Mayo, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said today: "The reports we have of the battle are that it was the fiercest encountered by the company in the past five months. It was almost like a First World War battle scene."
Lt-Col Mayo added: "The only people in the area for up to six kilometres around Garmisir are combatants. The reason we had this operation was to take the fight to the enemy. This was extremely close combat."
The battle took place in pitch black — it was a moonless night — as about 100 troops from the Mercians' A Company gradually fought their way forward under intense fire from Taliban machine guns dug into trenches and fox-holes.
At one stage Sgt Brelsford and his platoon "extracted" from a firefight, aided by Viking armoured personnel carriers and a detachment of Light Dragoons in Scimitars.
However, when they pulled back Sgt Brelsford discovered several of his men, including Pte Botha, had sustained injuries.
So he returned to the heat of battle to "his mates", said members of the company.
Pte Botha's close friend Kevin Latham said: "He died the way a true soldier should."
He added: "Our section was heavily engaged by the enemy and Pte Botha was in the thick of it.
Although he was very seriously injured he continued to fight until the very end, ensuring the safety of all his mates."
dailymail.co.uk
Heroic soldier killed in daring mission as he tried to save his fallen comrades in Afghanistan
10th September 2007
Daily Mail
THE MERCIAN REGIMENT
A British soldier died trying to rescue his fallen comrades in one of the fiercest battles with the Taliban so far in southern Afghanistan.
Sgt Craig Brelsford, 25, was killed as he led a platoon back into heavy enemy fire in a battle described as the "most intense and frightening" experienced in the past six months.
He and his men fought their way back to find the body of Private Johan Botha, also 25, who had been fatally wounded in an eight-hour battle outside Garmisir in Helmand province.
Sgt Craig Brelsford, right, returned to battle to try and rescue Pte Johan Botha, left
They also rescued three other injured colleagues and were able to get them back to a position where they could be helicoptered out to a field hospital at Camp Bastion.
One of the rescued soldiers is seriously injured although the others are expected to survive.
The two soldiers killed in the battle were from A Company of the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
Just five days earlier two other soldiers from the same regiment were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb.
Sgt Brelsford, from Nottingham, who was eight days away from his 26th birthday, was praised today by his company commander for "exceptional courage and selfless commitment".
Pte Botha, from South Africa, was on his first tour of duty and had been recommended for promotion.
Lt Col Charlie Mayo, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said today: "The reports we have of the battle are that it was the fiercest encountered by the company in the past five months. It was almost like a First World War battle scene."
Lt-Col Mayo added: "The only people in the area for up to six kilometres around Garmisir are combatants. The reason we had this operation was to take the fight to the enemy. This was extremely close combat."
The battle took place in pitch black — it was a moonless night — as about 100 troops from the Mercians' A Company gradually fought their way forward under intense fire from Taliban machine guns dug into trenches and fox-holes.
At one stage Sgt Brelsford and his platoon "extracted" from a firefight, aided by Viking armoured personnel carriers and a detachment of Light Dragoons in Scimitars.
However, when they pulled back Sgt Brelsford discovered several of his men, including Pte Botha, had sustained injuries.
So he returned to the heat of battle to "his mates", said members of the company.
Pte Botha's close friend Kevin Latham said: "He died the way a true soldier should."
He added: "Our section was heavily engaged by the enemy and Pte Botha was in the thick of it.
Although he was very seriously injured he continued to fight until the very end, ensuring the safety of all his mates."
dailymail.co.uk