A NEW book has criticised Colchester’s soldiers for a “gung-ho attitude” in Helmand, Afghanistan, which was “nothing short of disastrous”.

The author also accuses the Army high command of a dereliction of duty when they sent Colchester’s 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, to fight.

Author Frank Ledwidge, a former military intelligence officer, has released Losing Small Wars: British Military Failure in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In it, he criticises the false expectations from “Yes Sir” generals who told politicians what they wanted to hear and says the British had to be baled out by the US.

He also suggests defective strategies, poor training, obsolete tactics and a lack of resources were responsible for the death of troops, including those from Colchester.

Mr Ledwidge writes: “I have no hesitation in calling the high command of the Armed Forces to account for nothing less than a dereliction of duty.

“Yet no senior officer has been held to account; none has been dismissed; none has resigned; none has been removed from his position.”

Speaking about 3 Para, he claimed sending Colchester’s 16 Air Assault Brigade into Helmand in 2006 and 2008 sent out all the wrong messages and left “a legacy of destroyed towns, refugees and civilian casualties”.

He also criticised the low numbers of soldiers sent as inadequate.

Colonel Stuart Tootal, who commanded 3 Para in Helmand in 2006, defended the actions of those on the ground in Afghanistan, adding it was easy for those not there to criticise. He said: “I would like to think the reality of combat in Afghanistan has led to more clear military advice being offered to politicians, but it is the political masters who make final decisions.”