The fight for freedom

Members of the Army, RAF and the Royal Marines, many barely out of their teens, are facing the daily risk of death and injury in Operation Herrick - a huge military effort to combat terror, oppression and extremism in this battered and impoverished corner of Central Asia.

The campaign - one of the biggest since the Second World War - is frequently dangerous for those taking part.

In extremes of temperature, which at this time of year falls to -10C, they live under constant threat of attack - from rocket and missile strike, gunfire, landmines, roadside devices and suicide bombers.

But all are driven by a will to win - in the belief that they are there not only to protect civilian lives in the deserts and mountains of Afghanistan, but back home on the streets of Britain.

At the forefront of this effort are the courageous members of our local Territorial Infantry Battalion 7 Rifles, the airmen of RAF Brize Norton, and a handful of Oxfordshire medical professionals.

I travelled to Afghanistan to meet these heroic individuals, to hear their stories and bring back messages to their loved ones.

The men and women of 7 Rifles are serving six-month tours of Afghanistan.

Many are on their second tours, and a few have previously served in Iraq.

Part of the 140-strong Salonika Company, they are at the sharp end of the push against the Taliban in Helmand.

Based at the UK base at Camp Bastion - a sprawling temporary city of tents and fortifications, surrounded by desert - most have been on the frontline for all but a few days. They take the fight to the enemy in the unstable north of the province - still a Taliban hotbed.

Many are posted in remote Forward Operating Bases and isolated mountain-top positions, around the recently captured town of Musa Qala. They live in very basic conditions - often just holes in the ground - and eat basic Army rations.

But their job is crucial - protecting supply lines and infrastructure, guarding training programmes for Afghan army and police officers, and providing armed support to medics and other units, ensuring the Taliban does not regain control.

Here are their stories:

RIFLEMAN CARL ALFORD, 23, from Northway, Oxford

I am based at the Rowshan Tower - a communications mast on a mountain near Musa Qala. Our main role is to observe the area.

'It's a bit cold and muddy but not too bad. It looks like Shotover without the trees. We have even had some flooding - it's a lot like home!

"The thing I miss most are my family and friends in Oxford - and my nice warm bed. I could also do with a drink!

"I work at W. Lucy in Thame and have been in the TA for four years. I'm glad I joined. It has got me back on track...I was a terrible youth!

"It has been an adventure. It's my second tour. I was also in Iraq in 2005 - but this is a lot harder. Iraq was like Butlins with body armour!

"There are no facilities here and we have had to create our own accommodation. I'm up here for a month. You can go crazy, but getting our mail lifts morale - though getting it depends on convoys coming through.

"I have just had a letter from my girlfriend Melanie in Oxford which was nice - but made me miss home even more.

"Before coming to Afghanistan I had the usual nerves. But I've done it before, and lots of Oxford lads haven't been on tour before - so I am keeping an eye on them."

LANCE CORPORAL DAN MOORE, 25, from Thame

I have just come from Musa Qala, where I've been on the police mentoring team (training local Afghan police officers), and before that I was at Forward Operating Base Edinburgh where I had been since Christmas Eve.

"I am now protecting a mountain-top communications tower.

"The things I hate most are the boredom, missing home, and not leading a proper lifestyle. You can't go to the shops or a pub!

"I miss the freedom to walk out of the front door. We haven't even got a front door - and even if we had, you wouldn't want to walk out of it!

"The conditions are pretty bleak.

"I joined the Army 8 years ago. I left in 2003, but two years ago joined the TA.

"At home I was working for Morrells as a drayman.

"The public are generally behind us here, even if they don't know exactly what are we doing."

RIFLEMAN TONY FACCIOL, 38, Woodstock Road, Oxford

I am here defending an observation post near Musa Qala, protecting ourselves from rocket-propelled grenades and mortars and covering the main road - which is actually just a dirt track.

"I've been up here for three weeks and it has not been too bad, apart from the weather. It changes every five minutes, and you get all four seasons in a day. At the moment it's really cold. Last week it went down to -10C and my head froze!

"The wind also gets to you, and last night it poured down. But you have to put up with it.

"Life can be hard but we get on with it. This is why I joined the TA. I was in the Pioneers before, but had enough of that so changed regiment. At home I work at W. Lucy in Thame - the same place as Rifleman Carl Alford.

"I miss my family and friends, and when I get home in April, 14 of us are going on a holiday to Turkey."

RIFLEMAN DAN HOBLEY, 22, from Witney

I've been here since October. Every day is different.

"I work as a Telecom engineer at home but have been in the TA since November 2006. I joined to do this. There would be no point joining otherwise.

"It has been a real experience and I'm glad I've done it. At home I see the same old faces in the pub and some of them have not done anything.

"Life is very different out here and is sometimes stressful, but the support we get in the media makes us feel a bit more at home "My mates are quite proud of me. I do miss going out at the weekend and seeing them, and going to Nortons, The Vaults and The Palace. I also miss pub lunches.

"I never thought I'd miss Witney, but I do. Still, it gives me something to look forward to.

"I spent Christmas in Musa Qala - which was a bit of a bummer. When I went home for R&R, my mum didn't recognise me, as I had a moustache and had grown my hair, which made me look like Borat!

"My mum does worry too much, bless her. My brother Richard is joining the Paras, so she'll worry even more.

"He wants me to join too - but I'm not sure I'm fit enough!"

RIFLEMAN LLOYD NOLAN CROCKFORD, 30, from Charlbury

I am a member of the Incidents Response Team, based at Camp Bastion.

"I act as protection for air medical teams on the Chinook helicopters. We are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and aim to get casualties back to Camp Bastion in what we call the golden' hour.

"It's very much like an ambulance service, with incidents ranging from gunshot wounds to burns. Sometimes we have had to land in minefields.

"Camp Bastion really is an odd place, but I'm constantly on the go. The food is good - and there's lots of it. This is a horribly strange environment though.

"It's my first tour, and I am still quite nervous - but I am a nervous person.

"At home I work at Yarnton Nurseries as a forklift driver. I joined the TA in 2003, but knew this would happen "I miss my family. I've never been this far from home before. I miss my mum most of all - she died of cancer. I travelled back on compassionate leave.

"When I go home, I will miss the action, excitement and way of living. It won't be easy to adjust but I will click and go back to a routine.

"We are supported at home - but one minute we are heroes, and the next minute we are not.

"I know some people are really upset that we are out here. But while this is someone else's problem, we are trying to resolve it."

CORPORAL SEAN LENTELL, family in Finstock

I'm on Guard Command. At the moment I'm responsible for protecting the front gate of Camp Bastion.

"I've been here for three months, so have three more months to go. It's good at the moment, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

"It has been quiet, though we have had an explosion and a suicide bomber.

"I previously served six months in Iraq. The terrain is about the same but Helmand is a lot worse. The threat in Iraq was small, but Helmand is a bad place.

"I recently stepped up as a platoon sergeant. The hardest part of the job is looking after my boys. I have to look after their needs as well as mine.

"I am a HGV driver at home and a regular reservist. I volunteered for Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I feel at home here. Everyone has a purpose and is doing his job. The hardest part is being away from my four kids - and my aunty, uncle and cousins in Finstock.

"My kids are my world. I miss just being there. When they are upset, I am there for them. But obviously now I'm not.

"When I get back, I'll make that time up with them and spend a lot more time with my wife and children. If anybody deserves a medal, it's my wife!

"The support from home has been tremendous - especially at Christmas. The parcels were astonishing - and they kept coming. I'd like to give a big thank you' to the British public."