THREE brothers in arms are set to fight side by side in Afghanistan.

The MacKenzie clan, from Portland, are all members of Corunna Company 6th Battalion Rifles along with 480 other reservist soldiers.

Eldest brother Clive MacKenzie, 26, has just returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan where one of his main roles was as part of an immediate response team on the Chinook helicopters to pick up wounded soldiers and casualties.

His younger brother Richard, 18, will be following in his footsteps and heading to Afghanistan later this year and Michael, 20, is carrying out his initial TA training. Both Richard and Michael said they were really impressed and inspired by their older brother Clive, who has been in the TA for three years and hope that they will soon be fighting side by side in Afghanistan.

Clive said: “This was my first tour and I ended up in Camp Bastion staying in a tent with 12 other people which was cramped but not too bad.

“At first getting used to the heat was hard because it was around 45 degrees but you got used to it quite quickly.

“I feel proud coming back that I have been part of everything the British Army are doing in Afghanistan.”

Trained engineer Clive worked on a variety of tasks including serving the area around Camp Bastion, keeping watch from look-out stations and ensuring security on the base.

“We came under fire just once or twice but after all the training we had I was used to it,” he said.

Mum June, 51, said that she was proud that three of her sons had signed up to fight the Taliban. She said: “I am all for it – I think the Army gives the boys a really positive outlook on life.

“It definitely makes me feel proud of all three of them.”

June, a deputy manager of a care home in Portland and her husband Andrew have a family of six children.

She said that it was strange to think that one day soon three of them could be posted to Afghanistan together.

“We were worried when Clive was out there but we know they have had all the training and the TA have been so supportive to our family. I think all in all the army shows them different aspects of life that they wouldn’t normally see.

“It means they are all working and getting experience and that is all good for them.”

The Dorset soldiers serving with Corunna Company 6th Battalion Rifles suffered a devastating blow on New Year’s Day when Serjeant Christopher John Reed was killed in action. Clive said: “We had our ups and downs – there were really bad days and then days when everyone seemed relatively happy.”