Tower and Town, October 2021 (view the full edition)Afdghan Soldiering 2011THREE soldiers from 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards have praised the new Scimitar MK2 after they survived a strike by a large Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Afghanistan.
"The trio from the Welsh Cavalry were on a routine patrol in Nahr-e Saraj when their Scimitar Mk2 was engulfed in an explosion. All three soldiers walked away from the incident unharmed. " (MoD Army website)
The following piece is taken from a letter from Old Marlburian, Lieutenant Peter Gordon-Finlayson, 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards, to his parents; written in Helmand in 2011.
We left the gates and completed the familiar routine of loading weapons and announcing our departure over the radio. This patrol, however, would be a little more exciting than I was anticipating. Gereshk held its usual visual delights of rusty, aged lorries carrying loads that seem improbable, cars balanced teetering on the roofs of buses and various farm animals crammed onto the back seats of cars along with family members. We drove on, waving to children and nodding greetings to the omnipresent Afghan soldiers that manned the many check points. Leaving the highway, my vehicle led the small convoy into the desert. We rolled over dunes and peacefully cut through the sand as if skiing through virgin snow. Another convoy drove slowly along a track nearby going in the opposite direction. Suddenly the peaceful scene was shattered by a huge explosion and the entire world seemed to shake as if it had been seized in the grasp of an angry baby. It took a few seconds to realise what had happened. To start with I was indignant that my musings should be shattered so violently. After what seemed like a long time, although in reality must have been fractions of a second, I felt fear, a thrill of excitement, relief at being unharmed and then composure. The vehicle skidded to a halt and I immediately checked the status of the other crewmembers. My operator, LCpl Hatton, was holding his elbow but said he was fine so I turned my attention to the driver. Tpr Griffiths initially did not answer and I feared the worst. However after a second or two he answered my worried calls by appearing out of his hatch with a camera and immediately took a picture of me! I instinctively grinned at him like a goon; the result is a very obscure picture!
In the true nature of young men in a thrilling job, seeking and finding great adventure, we relished the story telling that ensued. Although we were clearly very lucky to walk away totally unscathed, there was no room for remorse or fear. We were elated by our survival and considered it a victory over those who would try to harm us. Lt Peter Gordon-Finlayson |