Ashington squaddie tells of battle for Afghanistan victory

But the end of the poppy season has seen fresh evidence of booby-trap bomb laying, sniper activity and ambushes that have already killed one Fusilier.

Fusiliers from across the North East are mourning the loss of Petero "Pat" Suesue, who was shot dead whilst leading a foot patrol last weekend.

And morale took another hit when the squaddies suffered the ordeal of watching Newcastle United get relegated on a specially arranged satellite showing last Sunday.

Yet the mood among the soldiers is upbeat and, in a telephone call to the Chronicle, they said their six-month tour has got off to a hugely successful start.

Corporal Mark Hyman, pictured front, a signaller from Ashington, said: "We've been doing quite a lot of work in the green zone where there's a lot of vegetation, and near the Musa Qual'eh Waddy river.

"It makes it harder, because out in the open desert you can identify who's firing at you. Here, it's like a shooting range, they will fire at you and just disappear.

"You walk about 500 metres from the base and it's just pure desert. You can see for absolutely miles. A lot of what we've been doing is getting a feel for the ground and visiting all the lads in the outposts, making sure they're settling in all right.

"There was a time we were with some Afghan police, and we literally just left the area and they had a contact. You could hear it all going on. It was obviously the Taliban thinking they'd have a quick potshot."

Captain David Falconer, 31 (pictured back), of Whickham, Gateshead, said: "It's coming to the end of the poppy season so we are expecting a pick up. The Taliban tend generally down tools and help the harvest at this time of year. We don't bother them and they don't bother us.

"But now, there's been more enemy activity on our main routes, which suggests they are laying improvised explosive devices.

"The temperature has been one of the toughest things for the lads. It's been 42 degrees in the shade and up to 47 in the sun. But everyone's been in good spirits."

The Fusiliers, who have strong ties to the North East, were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick 10, the latest phase of the British campaign in the country which has now seen 161 British fatalities.

The soldiers said the day their friend died was the lowest point of the tour so far, and feelings of grief were intensified for those who were supporting the Magpies last weekend.

Corporal Hyman, 36, said: "We had Pat's repatriation ceremony on the Sunday, the same day as the match.

"We had flags at half mast, all that sort of thing. It puts a lump in your throat, and then ten minutes after that it was kick-off. The whole day was horrible, I just wanted to go to bed."

Corporal Hyman would like to send the following message back home: "To all my friends and family, I love you all to bits and can't wait to see everyone at the end of the tour."