Former Helsby High School pupil hails platoon after 25-hour onslaught in Afghanistan

Oct 21 2010 Chester Chronicle

Sgt Liam Varley

A SOLDIER from Elton has hailed the bravery of the men he led through a horrific 25-hour enemy onslaught in war-torn Afghanistan.

Sgt Liam Varley, of 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment – now home after a punishing six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan – led his C Company platoon to safety following the ferocious firefight, one of the longest recorded in the current conflict.

His brother, Lance Corporal Paul Varley, serves in the same battalion but was not involved in the incident, when Liam’s platoon was ambushed by Taliban insurgents.

Clearing a route for civilians through the notorious Helmand province, Sgt Varley and his men were on a pre-dawn patrol when the enemy completely surrounded the soldiers’ roofless, single-access compound and launched a vicious attack.

Firing rocket-propelled grenades and small arms, the Taliban came within feet of the compound and, desperately fighting back, the Mercians did not eat for 14 hours.

At one stage, they were down to one litre of water in 50°C heat, and with their ammunition also rapidly running out, Sgt Varley split his men between two compounds.

An A10 tank-buster aircraft was called in, but the fighting by then was so close it was unable to bomb the Taliban.

Eventually, after 14 hours of intense combat, a Danish force fought its way through to relieve the platoon.

With fresh supplies of water and ammunition, the beleaguered infantrymen then had to fight through Taliban lines to make their way back C Company base in Nahre Saraj.

The brothers, who both joined the Army after leaving Helsby High School, returned to Catterick last week, where 32-year-old Liam was reunited with his wife, Helen.

Paul, 34, was welcomed by his wife, Joanne and their five-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son.

Liam’s parents, John and Gloria, said they were ‘very, very proud’ of their sons.

“We’re so relieved they’re both back safe and sound – they’ve lost some good friends out there.”

“We’ve met up with Paul but we haven’t seen Liam yet, but he’s coming home to Elton this weekend, and next weekend both the lads will be with us.

“We can’t wait for them to get home – there’ll be a real celebration then,” added John.

Liam contacted his parents from Afghanistan soon after the ambush and his father said they had spoken on the telephone several times since then.

“The way Liam put it was they had one hell of a fight.

“He’s always been very brave, but he said the worst thing was he was more worried for his men than himself.

“He called them the bravest of the brave.”