Prince says UK troops in Afghanistan are too often forgotten


01 August 2009
By CLARE BAILLIE
THE Prince of Wales has said that July had proved an "incredibly difficult month" for British troops in Afghanistan.
He also warned that servicemen and women were "too often out of mind" and urged Britons to do more to remember their sacrifices.

Writing in a newspaper he said: "Their mettle has been tested to the full and, as always, they have not been found wa
ADVERTISEMENTnting. With our forces fighting far from home – out of sight and, I fear, too often out of mind – sometimes it is not until they return home in flag-draped coffins that we become truly aware of all that we are asking of them."

The Prince's letter comes after Ministry of Defence figures showed British forces in Afghanistan suffered their highest casualty rate this month since the mission began.

Some 57 UK troops were wounded in action in the first two weeks of July compared with 46 in the whole of June and 24 in May.

July has seen the most deaths since the mission began eight years ago with 22 soldiers killed ahead of provincial and presidential elections on 20 August.

Charles, whose second son Prince Harry served in Afghanistan last year, continued: "My heart goes out to all those who have lost their loved ones in conflicts overseas.

"I can barely begin to imagine the unbearable anguish and grief they are suffering as they come to terms with their loss."

Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners paid their respects yesterday to the youngest soldier killed in Afghanistan, who died trying to save his comrades.

Rifleman William Aldridge, 18, was killed in a blast in Sangin, Helmand province, on 10 July as he attempted to rescue soldiers injured in another explosion.

In a statement, the Rifleman's mother, Lucy Aldridge, said: "He always wanted to join the army, it was his dream and ambition."


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