Last British troops leave Afghanistan's Camp Bastion

Wing Commander Matt Radnall holds a folder Union Jack. Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

On the outside of his backpack he carried a neatly folded Union flag. He was the last British soldier to leave Camp Bastion, airlifted out today.

Wing Commander Matt Radnall of the RAF Regiment led the rearguard protection force, which, when there was no-one else left to protect, boarded the last Chinook to lift off from the vast base that has been the UK military"s Helmand hub since it was set up in desert scrubland eight years ago.

Wing Co. Radnall said he was humbled by the experience.

The Union flag in his care was lowered yesterday as the British Command handed over Bastion to the Afghan Army.

At the height of Britain"s Helmand campaign there were almost 10,000 UK troops in the dangerous southern province - now there are none.

Before the final helicopter flight several Hercules aircraft transported the other three hundred or so British soldiers who had just spent their last night at Bastion.

The last British troops left Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Arriving here in Kandahar - a last staging post on their way out of Afghanistan - they spoke of their relief that their mission was over.

There had been concern that the Taliban would try to disrupt the pull-out, but it went smoothly and there were no attacks.

What the Afghans do with Bastion is not clear and not up to us. The British mission is over.