Casualties suffering shrapnel wounds had first aid in the field and were then flown by Chinook helicopters to RFA Sir Percivale, a support ship docked in the Sierra Leone capital Freetown. Teams of stretcher bearers from the 50-strong civilian crew, ferried casualties from a nearby helipad to a 40ft sea freight container which was converted into a triage and placed next to the ship.

Surgeon Lieutenant Jon Carty, 26, from Newcastle upon Tyne, the medical officer on HMS Argyll, said: "The majority of the casualties came in with shrapnel injuries caused by flying bits of ordinance mostly affecting their arms and legs.

Caption: GOING HOME: Captain [Liam Cradden], who played a key role as second in command, and Corporal [Simon Dawes], who led the attack on the first objective Picture: TIM OCKENDEN