MEN “of the very highest calibre” received the warmest welcome from family and friends in Arbroath as 45 Commando returned from six months in Afghanistan.

Five hundred Royal Marine of 45 Cdo’s total strength of 700 joined 3 Commando Brigade in the troubled Afghan province of Helmand to keep Taleban insurgents in check.

45 divided its energies in Afghanistan between training the newly-raised Afghan National Army and out-and-out fighting with Taleban insurgents.

Of the former, 45’s CO Lt Col Duncan Dewar said Afghan troops were now operating in “bigger and better units” thanks to the advice and training his Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (or ‘omelette’) provided. They are also supported by a fully-trained team of drivers, mechanics, logistics experts and medics.

“Where there was a partially-complete brigade with a crippling AWOL rate, now there is a stable brigade with growing self-confidence,” Lt Col Dewar added.

On a ‘hearts and minds’ level, the green berets helped to rebuild schools, mosques and homes around the capital of Helmand, Lashkar Gah, and even provided youngsters with a playground.

As for the Royals’ front-line mission, the bravery was typified by the rescue mission launched to bring back L/Cpl Mathew Ford during a raid on a Taleban stronghold.

Green berets volunteered to strap themselves to Apache helicopters to find their comrade, who sadly had been fatally wounded during the attack. Under enemy fire, they recovered L/Cpl Ford’s body and brought it to safety – a deed which drew worldwide admiration.

L/Cpl Ford was one of four men in 45 Cdo who made the ultimate sacrifice in Helmand: also killed in action were Mnes Jonathon Wigley, Gary Wright and Jonathan Holland.

Lt Col Dewar hailed 45’s role in Afghanistan as “a truly significant success” and said that his marines had “performed magnificently”.

He continued: “These men are soldiers of the very highest calibre and I am immensely proud of their achievements. They were given a tough job to do and they did it in the finest traditions of the Royal Marines.