Pride and Fall

The British Army in Afghanistan, 2001–2014

Sergio Miller

$59.99

Hardback

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English

Osprey Publishing
04 February 2025

History; 21st century history: from c 2000 -; Military history; Irregular or guerrilla forces & warfare; Battles & campaigns

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SOCIETY FOR ARMY HISTORICAL RESEARCH’S 2025 TEMPLER MEDAL

A detailed new account of the British military campaign in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014, based on the experiences of those who served.

On 11 September 2001 19 al-Qaeda-inspired jihadists hijacked four aircraft and mounted the deadliest terrorist attack in history. The outrage triggered a chain of events that saw British forces drawn into a lengthy military campaign against a fierce insurgency in Afghanistan.

In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, NATO invoked Article 5 of the Washington Treaty that obligated military assistance to the United States. The British government supported the initial US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and subsequently committed troops to Kabul and northern Afghanistan from 2002 onwards. However, in January 2006, following NATO’s expansion southwards, Britain committed a battlegroup from the Parachute Regiment to Helmand Province in what became known as Operation Herrick, with Defence Secretary John Reid stating he ‘would be perfectly happy to leave in three years and without firing one shot’. The reality was very different. From 2006 to 2014, a succession of British task forces rotated through Helmand and fought against an implacable enemy. When they finally withdrew in 2014, British forces had suffered losses of more than 450 killed and 2,000 wounded. The Taliban were not defeated and would grow stronger.

Sergio Miller served in Defence Intelligence in Whitehall throughout the campaign, and Pride and Fall answers the many questions surrounding the conflict. Based on abundant open-source material generated by the war and first-hand testimonies, this is the story of the men and women who served.

By: Sergio Miller
Imprint: Osprey Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 238mm, Width: 160mm, Spine: 52mm
Weight: 890g
ISBN: 9781472868299
ISBN 10: 1472868293
Pages: 592
Publication Date: 04 February 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

(Subject to confirmation) Chapter 2 – International Rescue Chapter 3 – A Particularly Difficult Operation Chapter 4 – Unfix the Force Chapter 5 – Take the fight to the enemy Chapter 6 – The Prize is the Population Chapter 7 – Fixed again Chapter 8 – Serving in Hell-Land Chapter 9 – The Commandos return Chapter 10 – Crisis Year Chapter 11 – All change Chapter 12 – Doing the hard-yards (successfully) Chapter 13 – The rush for the exit door

Sergio Miller is a former British Army Intelligence Corps and special forces officer. Over the course of Operation Herrick, he served in Defence Intelligence in the MOD and viewed the war from the inside. Sergio is also the author of the two-part history of the Vietnam War, In Good Faith and No Wider War, published by Osprey. He was a regular contributor to the British Army’s house journal British Army Review and today writes for British military blogging site The Wavell Room.

Reviews for Pride and Fall: The British Army in Afghanistan, 2001–2014

Forensically researched. * The Telegraph * There is a need for an authoritative account of the British operations conducted on the ground in Afghanistan during that most difficult of wars. This is that book. * Ben Barry, author of 'Blood, Metal and Dust' and Senior Fellow for Land Warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies * [An] outstanding study. * Morning Star *