SOLDIERS from Cheshire are heading to the Afghanistan war zone in October.
The first battalion of the Mercian Regiment will deploy as part of 4 Mechanized Brigade in its light infantry role.
The soldiers were last in Afghanistan in 2010 when Corporal Terry Webster, 24, from Blacon, Chester and Lance Corporal Alan Cochran, 23, from Pentre Halkyn, near Holywell were killed by a Taliban sharp shooter.
The battalion, which recruits from Cheshire and the Wirral, must be ready to conduct operations on foot, by vehicle or by helicopter as well as interacting with the local population.
Army spokesman Jason Teasdale said: “They will be involved as part of a brigade taking over the security of Afghanistan at the end of the year.
“They went nearly two years ago. They have been planning this for a while and we can now confirm they are deploying.”
Meanwhile, the Government has announced plans to axe the 3rd battalion of the Mercian Regiment which recruits from Staffordshire, the West Midlands and Birmingham, as part of the biggest overhaul of the army for decades.
Soldiers from 2 Mercian are helping with venue security during the Olympics.
The Chester-based 1st battalion, The Royal Welsh, are currently serving in Afghanistan. In June, Corporal Michael John Thacker, 27, stationed at Dale Barracks in Upton, was shot dead in Helmand Province.
