Royal Irish Regiment soldiers on patrol in Helmand Province, 2010

Digital photograph by Sergeant Rupert Frere, Royal Logistic Corps, 2010.

A soldier from 'B' Company, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment kneels outside a compound while on patrol in the Nad-e-Ali District of Helmand Province. The Royal Irish shamrock drop zone flash badge can be seen on his helmet and he wears an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and subdued green and black 16 Air Assaukt Brigade badge on his left arm.

The Royal Irish Regiment was deployed to Helmand Province for the third time from 2 October 2010 to 26 March 2011, as part Operation HERRICK 13. This was a challenging tour which saw some intense fighting but also brought some significant successes. The commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Weir, later wrote 'Few of us will easily forget those first few days and weeks in Nad-e'Ali in October and November 2010 when we were in constant and bloody contact with a determined enemy or the sense in December and January that the tide was turning and that something really significant and positive was happening'.