Lt. Col Angus Fair, CCCC in 1989 and now commanding officer of The Light Dragoons battle group in Afghanistan, writes of his experiences in The Times (July 28, page 8)

In the piece Angus (or Gus, as he is now known) describes how his battle group broke through a bridgehead and fought its way south through determined enemy resistance as part of Operation Panther's Claw.

"This was the most intense fighting over a protracted period I have experienced in my 20 years in the Army," he wrote. "The conditions could barely have been more testing." Three of Fair's soldiers were killed and several wounded.

As a result of the action Taleban fighters have been cleared from Malgir and Babji and people living in these districts now "have the freedom to vote in next month's elections" as well as being able to live a more normal everyday existence than previously.

"Some will ask whether the progress is worth the cost," Fair stated. "I can answer for everyone in my battle group when I answer with a resounding 'yes'."