THREE brothers who served in Afghanistan were kept apart to protect them from injury or even death in the same attack.

Whitstable brothers Lance-Corporal Liam Arthey, 21, and Private Sam Arthey, 20, have spoken about serving in Afghanistan together as they prepare to finally return to the UK.

Their elder brother, Corporal Lewis Arthey, 23, was also in Afghanistan.

The brothers served two tours in Afghanistan from their base in Cyprus with the 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

They were part of a rapid-response theatre-reserve battalion to support operations, but were separated into three different platoons during operational tours.

Liam said: "They didn't want us to stay together because, if the obvious happened, it wouldn't be good.

"But it was a constant worry at the back of my mind about Sam's platoon and Lewis's platoon.

"We weren't that far away from each other so you could hear them getting in trouble, hear them over the radio. I used to always run to the operations room to listen to what was going on.

"Loads of feelings would go through my head, like I wish I was there, I wish he wasn't there, I wish we both weren't here, jealous that he was getting amongst it and I wasn't.

"We've done it now, and we are willing to do it again, but we are not in any rush to go back."

Sam said: "I was nervous at first, but when you are out there you remember your training.

"You know what you have to do so you just get on and do it, and I enjoyed doing my job for real.

"There were scary parts, being shot at. Some of them were quite near misses.

"Our patrol base was 11km away from other friendly forces, and only 5km away from a Taliban stronghold, so we were quite cut off."

Fear for his brothers was also a big concern.

Sam said: "It was harder in some ways having brothers in the battalion because, not only did I have to worry about myself keeping safe, but they were also constantly at the back of my mind. I hoped they were OK because I wasn't with them.

"Because we were in different locations, our point of contact was my dad. When I spoke to my dad on the phone every now and again, I would say, 'If you speak to Lewis or Liam, let them know that I'm all right,' and they would do the same, so we always knew."

The former Whitstable Community College pupils are now returning to the UK to take on a new role. In a break with tradition, the infantry soldiers of their battalion will be guarding the Queen while the Guards regiments are deployed elsewhere.