Soldiers' view of life on the frontline >videos
SOLDIERS from East Yorkshire have spoken exclusively to the Mail about their battle with the Taliban on the frontline in Afghanistan.
The Mail travelled to Helmand Province to spend time with the Light Dragoons regiment, which recruits heavily from Hull and the East Riding.
We joined convoys through the frontline, which are littered with roadside bombs, and were given rare access to soldiers on their six-month deployment.
They have spoken of their fight with a determined and skilled enemy during the fierce Afghan summer, with temperatures exceeding 50C.
And they have revealed their heartbreak at being separated from their loved ones in order to serve their country.
July was the bloodiest month for British forces in Afghanistan since the mission began eight years ago, with 22 soldiers killed and many more wounded in action.
The British death toll in the war-torn country since 2001is 196.
The East Yorkshire soldiers currently serving in Helmand Province include Lance Corporal Brett Mallinson, of Bilton, who has lost three colleagues, including his best friend, Lance Corporal Nigel Moffett.
He also missed the birth of his baby daughter, Lexi, when she was born 10 weeks premature.
L/Cpl Mallinson, 25, said: "Afghanistan is one big threat.
"Every second of the day you have to watch what you are doing.
"If you don't you are going home in a body bag."
L/Cpl Mallinson was able to spend two-and-a-half-weeks with his wife Louise and their child before he had to return to the war zone.
"I can't wait to get home and for us to spend some quality family time together," he said.
"It is always in the back of my mind. I am stepping very carefully."
For Corporal Paul Coupland, 39, a father of four, from Driffield, the reality of war struck home during a telephone conversation with his six-year-old his daughter Shannon.
She pleaded with him: "Don't get shot, Daddy."
Cpl Coupland is fighting alongside inexperienced soldiers the same age as his eldest son Clarke, 18.
He told us: "I know the children are really worried about me out here.
"When I talk to Shannon on the phone she always asks if I am okay. I think it affects her most.
"She understands more than I thought she would. It is surprising how much.
"If she sees something about the Light Dragoons on the telly she will ask if I have been shot."
* 'Daddy, please don't get shot': how the words of one Driffield soldier's little girl is foremost in his mind while patrolling in Afghanistan - see today's Mail.
* And see today's Mail to read reporter Kevin Shoesmith's diary from the frontline.
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by Not In My Name, Hull
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 12:50AM
“I find this sort of story really strange.
Firstly, I hope every one of these soldiers gets home in good health, I really do.
However, there's some things that make no sense to me.
1. It seems to me that most people have no faith in MPs to make the right decisions about pretty much anything. With good reason and plenty of evidence.
MPs decide if there's going to be a war.
Why would anyone join the armed forces when the orders you'll be following will come from people that most of us appear to have no faith in?
2. The HDM headline relating to the fellow who'd lost three of his pals and was going to miss the birth of his child.
I don't mean to be callous, but what do you expect? The point of the armed forces of all nations is to kill people of opposing sides. That's what war is. If you join the armed forces, you stand an excellent chance of being killed/crippled. You are likely to be away for months on end, thus missing important personal events. If you don't want these things to happen, or you want to minimise the chances, don't sign up.
3. Relating to 2. I witnessed a "Join the Army" presentation in a school recently and I was disgusted. Impressionable children of 15 were being told that, basically, it's like being on holiday. Let's just say that the presentation was heavy on the leisure pursuits and light on the dying aspect.
I was appalled.
We're swamped with so called reality TV, yet they don't show body bags coming back from the Middle East. That's reality.
If people want to join the armed forces, that's their decision, but let them make informed decisions at least.
4. It's a waste of lives going to the Middle East. Just like Korea, just like Vietnam. A significant proportion of the natives clearly do not want us there 'protecting them'. Would you like it if some foreign country decided that Britain was a bad place, invaded us and we were under foreign occupation? Because I don't think you'd like it at all.
5. Consequently, for the reasons above, I have the utmost respect for people willing to risk their lives so that others may live without fear, but this war is, i) about money, not people and ii) unwinnable.
So, good luck to you all, save journey home, but don't tell me you're fighting for me, because in this instance, I don't want you to, thanks.”
by Tom, Local
Monday, August 10 2009, 10:26PM
“Have you noticed how few comments this site gets now, after D. Johnson MP had so many people banned after daring to mention her voting record in Parliament?”
by NoWhereMan, NoWhereLand
Monday, August 10 2009, 10:23PM
“Let's be honest. They enjoy killing people. If they're killed, we feel sorry for them. If they kill, well that's part of the job. I agree with Harry Patch, war is organised murder. Brings the young men home!”
by Andy, Hull
Monday, August 10 2009, 7:33PM
“EastSideRightSideOfTheRiver... Spot on. Whether people agree or disagree with the reasons these heroes are fighting out there, they still need to hear they have 100% support behind them from everyone back home, the people whos futures they are protecting.”
by EastSideRightSideOfTheRiver, EastSideRightSideofthe River
Monday, August 10 2009, 6:56PM
“I looked at the comments on here expecting to here lots of praise for the lads and lasses out in the field. All I see is bickering, I served in the regiment when it was the 13th/18th Royal Hussars a long time ago but a few of my old mates are still in as it is now the Light Dragoons. Cant we just praise them for the work they are doing and the sacfifices they are making for all our sakes. They have access to the web, what do you think they will think when they see some of the comments on here. (Sorry to the people who are making sensible genuine comments) Hope they all come home for a Lilywhite.”
by bradley, Hedon
Monday, August 10 2009, 6:28PM
“Strategicaly Afghanistan has evreything to do with Oil.Go look on a map.”
by amanda, Hull
Monday, August 10 2009, 3:45PM
“bradley
What has Afghan gotta do with british soldiers OH yer nothing and its my opinion that they shouldnt be there. Everyone has an opinion. I have my own beliefs cos my nieces husband who is only 23 is going out there in october and like many familys pray they get back safe and for those who havent made it back my heart goes out to them thanks to the bloody goverment”
by Tom, Local
Monday, August 10 2009, 3:27PM
“Bradley,
The oil is in Iraq not Afghanistan.”
by Ron, Sutton
Monday, August 10 2009, 2:03PM
“They are heroes now but this country has a habit of forgetting very quickly the price paid for these conflicts.Just a stark reminder that in1972 that year alone in Northern Ireland we lost 183 British Soldiers and RUC officers.”
by bradley, Hedon
Monday, August 10 2009, 1:37PM
“Why is it not our war Amanda? The coalition troops(not just British) are fighting for economic stability and freedom worldwide.The western world is reliant on crude oil. if we did not have it the modern world would colapse.I presume that you drive a car? The troops are there to stop the terrorists exploiting this.Sad maybe however the soldiers know exactly what they are getting into when they join up.”