Thanks Colchester

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 22nd Jul 2008

Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith - Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade currently serving in Afghanistan - has expressed his appreciation to the people of Colchester for their support for troops from the town's Garrison.

In a letter from Brigade Headquarters at Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, to Colchester MP Bob Russell, Brigadier Carleton-Smith said: "Please let the people of Colchester know that their support is recognised and deeply appreciated throughout the Brigade. It contributes to the high morale of the Taskforce and ultimately to our success.

"The knowledge that the job being done in Afghanistan is not some isolated struggle but one which is followed and cared about at home makes more difference than you may know. It helps us to keep going when times are hard and makes us proud to serve such a supportive nation."

And in a personal message to Mr Russell, Brigadier Carleton-Smith said: "I also thank you for making sure that people know that losses here are not futile and that the job is worthwhile. I speak for the whole British contingent in thanking you for everything you are doing. Thank you very much for your condolences and for all your efforts to raise the public's awareness of the sacrifices soldiers are making daily on its behalf."

Mr Russell explained that he had written to Brigadier Carleton-Smith after the deaths in less than a week of five soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment, part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, expressing his own condolences and to ask that the Brigade be made aware of the massive support which had been expressed by Colchester residents.

Reports from the Gazette were enclosed with his letter. Since then three more soldiers from the Brigade have lost their lives.

Brigadier Carleton-Smith acknowledged the strength of civilian support by observing in his letter: "The Brigade knows very well how much sympathy the residents of Colchester have for their soldiers and how much support they give them. I have heard reports from several soldiers whose families have described the huge number of flowers laid outside Meeanee Barracks; that display of appreciation and sorrow is met with real gratitude here."

Mr Russell had also reported a meeting he had had at the House of Commons with the Chairman of the Helmand Provincial Council and three other Council members from Lashkar Gah at which appreciation had been given for the work of soldiers from the Colchester Garrison in helping with the restructuring of their country.

Referring in his letter to this meeting, Brigadier Carleton-Smith told Mr Russell: "It is as important to us that people at home know of our successes as the local Afghans knowing.

"To have attention drawn to the difference British soldiers are making, both by you and by the Chairman of the Provincial Council, is a real boost; it adds to our sense of purpose and makes me even more certain when I assure you that we will continue to do our utmost in the task before us."

Two weeks' ago at Prime Minister's Questions Mr Russell expressed condolences and spoke in support of soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade. Last Thursday, in a House of Commons debate on reconstruction work in Afghanistan, he once more paid tribute to soldiers from Colchester and the important work they are doing in helping to defeat terrorism and to re-build Afghanistan.

Mr Russell is a member of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Defence team. Earlier this year he visited Helmand Province, where soldiers from Colchester Garrison are now deployed, through his membership of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.