Reporter JULIE HAYES has just returned from a week with the British Army in Afghanistan, where she spoke to troops about coping with the loss of a comrade.
THE ROYAL Dragoon Guards have had a difficult tour during Operation Herrick 12.
The Catterick-based armoured regiment, which has the dangerous job of patrolling southern Afghanistan, lost four soldiers in June and July – Trooper Ashley David Smith, Trooper James Leverett, Sergeant David Monkhouse and Corporal Matthew Stenton, who is still deeply missed by his best friend.
Trooper Jason Robson continues to patrol Helmand Province with the Viking squadron, who are protecting engineers building Route Trident, a vital road link to enable residents and troops to travel safely between provincial capital Lashkar Gah and Gereshk.
Jason, who is 22, lived just a couple of doors away from 23-year-old Matthew in Bridlington before they were posted together in Afghanistan.
“I just think, what a waste of a life,” he said. “He was a young lad and his birthday was a couple of days after. He was flying through the ranks and everyone loved him. We’re all going to miss him dearly.”
Jason was there when his friend was shot by the Taliban, with Lance Corporal Stephen Daniel Monkhouse from the Scots Guards, while rescuing an injured colleague.
“It was a very distressing time. I went to see his family when I was on R&R and they were absolutely distraught,” he said. “I wanted to be there to tell them what happened and comfort them. I kept breaking down in tears for about three to four days afterwards. But you have to pick yourself up and get back on with it. What’s happened has happened and we'll be able to grieve properly when we get back home.
“His family has organised a good party for us all. That’s what he left in his will. We will all have a good time and say goodbye properly to him then.”
Jason joined the army at the age of 16 and his best mates are now in the army, although he misses his fiancée Zoe Tryer, who is pregnant with his daughter.
Like any job you get good days and bad days, he said. A few weeks ago his vehicle hit a 50kg IED.
“It went off and at first I thought I had just hit a bump. The whole cab filled with dust. It was a shock but also a rush because I had lived through it. But it’s not a nice experience,” he said.
Royal Dragoon Guards out on patrol in Viking armoured vehicles.
The above pictures show Route Trident - a road that is being built by Afghan civilians and soldiers from the Royal Engineers. The road will link the provincial capital Lashkar Gah with the economic hub of Gereshk, providing a safe and durable transit route for the civilian population and ISAF forces across the province.
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