"The Defence of Sangin District Centre"

by David Rowlands

Giclee Print Size 58 x 38 cm

3 Commando Brigade deployed to Helmand Province from September 2006 to April 2007 on Operation HERRICK 5. Royal Marines of 42 Commando garrisoned Sangin District Centre (DC), but in February 2007 were relieved in place by C Company Group, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, commanded by Major Jim Taylor.

At this time the fighting was almost continuous. In their first twenty days in Sangin, C Company Group was attacked by the Taliban 79 times. The Fusiliers remained here till April.

I was in Helmand at that time and met Sergeant Major Paul Bland, who told me about C Company’s defence of the DC.
Major Taylor asked me to paint this scene looking eastward from the building known as the ANP House. Its topmost storey was reached by a ladder through a hole in the floor. From Sangar 6 North a Fusilier fires a General Purpose Machine Gun towards the enemy in Wombat Wood. On the storey below, a 51mm mortar is being fired from a sandbagged position. Across the canal is the FSG tower; the Fire Support Team on its rooftop have called in close air support, and bombs are dropping on the Northern Compound. To the right is the Headquarters building. Between them is a pit where an 81mm mortar is firing into Mousehole Wood. Beyond the DC is the town of Sangin.