ECHO reporter Catherine Bolado continues her reports from Cyprus where a major training exercise is taking place.

It involves Territorial Army personnel from Dorchester-based 6 Rifles C Company as well as regular soldiers.

Catherine observes as the soldiers advance towards the enemy during the last battle.

THE sound of gunfire rang across the arid valley as 6 Rifles stormed the enemy position claiming victory in their final attack.

Orders were passed back along the platoons and 'casualties' were evacuated from the field The final attack was the culmination of two weeks intense training in Cyprus for 6 Rifles and co-ordinated by riflemen from C-Company based in Dorchester. They worked together with regular soldiers from 1 Rifles.

Having landed on the beach on Monday and pushed their 'enemy' back, the riflemen then sought out their foes, patrolled and set up base then moved into position to observe the 'enemy' camp and executed a final attack yesterday morning. (Wednesday) Riflemen moved across the grassy open area towards a high rocky ridge where the 'enemy' were based, pushing them further and further back until they captured the 'enemy's' position and won the final victory.

Their 'enemy' was played by 2nd Battalion of the Yorkshire regiment.

The final command was given of 'End Ex' as the final signal that the three day operation had finished.

Cries of 'Man down!' were yelled back down the platoons as during the exercise the riflemen had to deal with several 'casualties,' men and women who had been 'wounded ' in the battle. They had to evacuate casualties to a helicopter landing site using sheets to carry them across the uneven ground, before they were collected by helicopter.

See a video of the action

Captain Simon Longman is from 6 Rifles C-Company based in Dorchester. He lives in Tolpuddle and did a tour of Iraq in 2004.

Back home he works for Dorset County Council in IT. During the exercise he was C-Company second in command in the field.

He said: “For me the exercise yesterday was all about the passage of information.”

He added that his role helped to provide the bridge between the command on the ground and the HQ back at the base.

He said the company had started at 4.45am with planning and preparation.

The TA provided a good challenge, he added.

Capt Longman said: “I think it's something to do with the camaraderie, the banter and testing yourself with a good old fashioned challenge.”

Major Richard Stewart, 51, is the officer commanding C-Company based in Dorchester. He lives in Bridport.

He joined the TA 20 years ago and back home he works in DEK in Weymouth as an operations manager - he toured Afghanistan in 2006-7.

Maj Stewart said the exercise had gone very well. He said: “It was a good performance.”

He said the integration between the regulars and TA had been good and they had learnt a lot from their full time counterparts.

He praised the TA. He said: “They are easy to work with- they are enthusiastic.”

Maj Stewart said he enjoyed the challenge and loved being out in the field.

He said: “I enjoy it. It's challenging - very different from the civilian job.”

He added: “You go places and see things you would not otherwise see.”

Graham Hales is a Regimental Serjeant Major with 6 Rifles.

He said that in Afghanistan they would get someone to Camp Bastion in a matter of minutes after they had been wounded.

Dorset Echo:

Reg Serj Maj Hales served shoulder-to-shoulder with 40 members of 6 Rifles in Afghanistan and afterwards asked to go and work with them as he was so impressed. The riflemen underwent training towards the deployment beforehand.

He said: “We hit the ground running with guys just as good as guys from the regular battalion.”

He added that the full integration of the TA and regular army worked.

He said: “It works really well.”

Captain Will Hignett helped to plan the exercise and specialises in training the younger officers.

He said: “I have been impressed with the effort they have put in.”