The 20-year-old Royal Marine was flying in a Chinook helicopter with his unit in Helmand province when the Taliban opened fire with mortars.

Though no-one was seriously injured or killed it was a shock for the former cadet from Milton, Portsmouth.

'You have all the drills in your mind, but your first reaction is total surprise that an attack could be coming at you,' he said.

'Some people who you think would be strong suddenly go quiet and others come to the fore.

'You have to focus on doing your job and luckily I am quite a loud guy.'

The opening day attack was just the beginning for Marine Scott, who spent seven months in the Helmand from September until April.

But despite having to treat injured comrades and risk being attacked by civilians they are there to protect, he has vowed to go back as soon as he can.

'It's what we're trained for, I was proud of what we achieved and I would go back willingly if a posting came up,' he said.

After studying public services at Highbury College the ex-Miltoncross student put himself through the course for potential Royal Marines.

He said: 'I had done cadets and I was a member of Portsmouth Action Field Gun, so I have always known the military environment.

'But the work you have to do as a Marine is much tougher and there were lots of people who didn't make it.'

He completed the course and was accepted for training proper, where again the drop-out rate was high.

'They used to do things to break your spirit, to see if you would keep going even though you had nothing left,' he said.

And that approach was to help him cope with constant attacks from the Taliban.

'When you're stationed in a base in the green zone, where all the opium is made, you know you're a target but there's not a lot you can do,' he said.

'We would see these mortars being fired into the air and you have to take cover with whatever you have.'

Inevitably the attacks led to injuries and Marine Scott knew Lieutenant John Thornton and Marine David Marsh who were killed in March while on patrol.

He said: 'I've had to give first aid to fellow Marines until the medics arrived and it can be stressful because you know the guys so well.

'I knew of the other lads who died and it makes it hard because you think the people you're trying to protect might have helped the Taliban.

'We are there to offer them protection but they are in a difficult position – they don't know who is going to come out on top so they avoid taking sides.'

But even though he has seen violence and had to deal with mistrust, Marine Scott is restless on his leave in Portsmouth.

He said: 'It's great to be back, I was able to see my parents and brother just before Christmas which no-one expected would be possible.

'The thing is, though, we have done all this training and I want to use it.'