WHILE Brits were preparing to tuck into turkey and open presents, Royal Marines were locked in a struggle of life and death in Afghanistan.

Troops from India Company, Command Support Group, grappled with Taliban insurgents throughout the festive season in the district of Garmsir.

The Royals were subjected to regular sniper fire, rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire as they attempted to wrestle control of the region from the Taliban’s hands.

Garmsir was one a thriving centre of commerce, but the once bustling streets have been all but deserted since insurgent activity flared up. The principal road into the district centre and the only bridge in and out of town are both subjected to regular sniper fire.

Mne Eddie Cain from Dumbarton in Scotland said the skirmishes with the Taliban had been particularly fierce on Christmas Eve.

Having pummeled Taliban positions with mortar and 105mm shell fire, the commandos thought they had subdued the enemy.

But the insurgents used dried-up canals and trenches to get within 200 yards of India Company’s position and then opened fire with RPGs and rifles.

“We jumped behind the foot-tall sandbag wall to return fire, only to be beaten back by the bullets ripping through our protection,” said Mne Cain.

“Rolling back from the trench I realised a round had passed through my shirt just missing my shoulder – for the second time in three days.”

It took the combined fire of the commandos’ machine-guns and a 50 calibre gun mounted on a WMIK Land Rover to subdue the insurgents in a battle which lasted long into the night.

The fierce fighting with Taliban contrasts sharply with the Royals’ attempts to win over the local populace.

Capt Tom Evans-Jones said the way his men switched between war and peace almost effortlessly.

“The men were able to immediately switch from aggressive action to winning the hearts and minds of locals which is essential to what we are trying to achieve,” he added.

“We have to provide security and stability so that the local populace can rebuild their lives in this town which used to thrive without fear of the Taliban.”

The Royals have been greatly aided in the fighting around Garmsir by the guns of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery who beyond pounding Taliban positions have also fired smoke shells to cover the marines and fired star shells by night to illuminate Helmand when needed.