FOUR Territorial Army (TA) soldiers from Farnham's A Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment (PWRR) emerged as heroes in Basra on Monday. Corporal Frazer Bakas, 39, Private Mike Perridge, 24, Private James Neale, 22, and Private Robert Birt, 37, participated in a valiant rescue of colleagues from a Warrior armoured personnel carrier, in the midst of a vicious insurgent attack. The quartet were among 18 Farnham-based soldiers mobilised to Iraq's volatile second city for a six-month tour in March. The soldiers were called upon to support their regular Army counterparts after two British soldiers - widely believed to be SAS - were detained at the Jamiat Police Station in Basra. As part of the Immediate Response Team, they were drawn into conflict with between two and three hundred Shia insurgents, using small arms fire and petrol bombs. Witnessing a Warrior being petrol bombed, they reacted instinctively, providing protection to the crews as they emerged, and extracting casualties while under enemy onslaught. It is understood that Corporal Bakas climbed on top of the Warrior to assist a casualty in getting out of the burning vehicle while under attack. No life-threatening injuries were sustained by any British Forces. Lt Col Adam Edmunds, Commanding Officer for 3rd Battalion, proudly said "I had four soldiers as part of the Immediate Reaction Team, and they were on immediate reaction duty when all this blew up. "While we have yet to receive details of the exact nature of the incident, it is clear that some of our soldiers were involved. "It further reinforces the crucial role played by the Territorial Army in support of the regular Army on operations and closes the perception gap that might have existed between TA and its regular counterpart. "I am quite sure that as details emerge we will find that our soldiers have, once again, conducted themselves with great professionalism and in a manner of which we can all be extremely proud. "I look forward to welcoming them all back home in November," he said. "It was absolutely typical of Corporal Bakas to act so unselfishly," said Major Andrew Smith, Officer in Command of A Company in Farnham. "He is the nicest guy in the world," he added. Meanwhile, speaking before the incident, Private James Neale said: "I have full confidence in the training I have been given" - so it proved on Monday. In total, 37 soldiers from 3 PWRR were mobilised in March and joined 110 TA soldiers from the Royal Rifle Volunteers (RRV), based in Oxford, to form Roebuck Company. After two months of intensive training, the Company was deployed to Iraq and has been based at Basra International Airport. Tasked with guarding headquarters of the British-led coalition force in Southern Iraq, Roebuck Company also escort high priority construction convoys and workers, medical personnel and weapons experts attending bomb scenes. A source said: "Thus far they have had a quiet tour without any big incidents, but they certainly came up to battle speed incredibly quickly." Local MP Jeremy Hunt was quick to praise the heroic servicemen. "It is wonderful news that our soldiers have performed with such valour and heroics in such difficult circumstances. "These brave men do a truly valuable job, putting their lives on the line, while holding down careers back at home. "My thoughts are with their families at this time. I can only imagine the anxiety that they face on a daily basis." Sir Ray Tindle, the proprietor of The Herald, remarked: "I was so proud to learn that the rescue of our soldiers, under fire, from a burning tank in Iraq on Monday was carried out by four TA men from Farnham." "This was bravery of the highest order and I feel Farnham will be proud of them. As an old soldier I salute them." As demonstrated in Basra, the TA is a vital part of the British Army, providing one quarter of the soldiers in service. It performs the vital dual role of reinforcing the regular Army and serving local communities in times of need. Cpl Bakas is a revenue protection officer for South West Trains. Pte Mike Perridge is a treasury administrator for AON Consulting. Pte James Neale works as a welder and fabricator while Pte Robert Birt works for Trading Standards.