Soldiers prepare to take on the Taliban
Afghanistan could be their toughest military tour yet, but they are ready to take on the Taliban.That was the verdict of soldiers from the Light Dragoons at Robertson Barracks at Swanton Morley as they prepared for their latest deployment.
Afghanistan could be their toughest military tour yet, but they are ready to take on the Taliban.
That was the verdict of soldiers from the Light Dragoons at Robertson Barracks at Swanton Morley as they prepared for their latest deployment.
On Tuesday, March 13 at their final service at the barracks before leaving for Helmand Province, the soldiers reflected on the challenges ahead.
They were given wooden crosses during the service - a gift from local churches to give them strength in dangerous times and remind them that people back home are thinking of them.
In the coming weeks 170 Light Dragoons from A, B, D and HQ squadrons will begin to take over there from the regiment's C Squadron.
The soldiers' mission will include disrupting the Taliban and providing reassurance and support to the Afghan government.
Most Read
- 1 Classic vehicle day coming to stunning gardens this weekend
- 2 Man in his 20s dies after crash in west Norfolk
- 3 7 pubs up for sale or rent in Norfolk
- 4 'I can't stop Western Link work starting in my woodland'
- 5 Mum killed in A47 collision was ‘walking to Norwich’, inquest hears
- 6 Jailed this week: County lines gang and man found with cocaine in his car
- 7 Seven beach walks with a cafe pit stop to try in Norfolk
- 8 One in four patients ignored health conditions after failing to see GP
- 9 Neighbours' tribute to crash victim who 'thought the world of her dogs'
- 10 Six beaches in Norfolk awarded Blue Flag status for 2022
“I cannot wait to get out there but this is possibly our hardest tour yet,” said Corporal Keith Bell, 29, from the B Squadron and who served in Bosnia in 2000 and Iraq in 2003 and 2005.
The 29-year-old father-of-two added: “I feel a lot more apprehensive than on previous trips.
“Soldiers from our C Squadron have said it is harder in Afghanistan. It seems to be a more capable enemy which is getting better trained all the time. They delve a lot deeper.”
Sgt Grant Armstrong, 33, said: “We have good camaraderie and we are a good force but we haven't faced before what we will face in Afghanistan before. Hopefully the training will see us through. Only time will tell.”
Commanding officer Lt Col Angus Watson said: “The over-riding emotion for the regiment is excitement about what we are going to undertake. But military operations are risky and so that excitement is combined with apprehension - and leaving friends and families behind for six months is never easy. But we are well prepared and we will deliver what we are being asked to do.
“The nature of the tasks that we will be engaged in is different from Iraq and there is likely to be more fighting.”
