Lancashire soldiers tell of biggest mission to Afghanistan

WHILE many of his friends are planning nights out or looking for their first job, 18-year-old Ashley Clark is preparing to join the front line on the war on terror in Afghanistan.

The kingsman from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment is one of hundreds of troops from the region in their final training ahead of a six-month tour of duty to Helmand Province.

It is one of the most dangerous places in the world, but after almost two years of training Kingsman Clark and his colleagues are ready for the challenges ahead.

The soldier, who is from Rawtenstall and went to Fearns High School, said: “The training has gone really well.

"We are now in the final preparations and feel confident about the tour.

“I’m going to be allowed to go home briefly before we leave. I’m looking forward to seeing my girlfriend.

“The important thing is to have a strong mindset and tell yourself that the worst won’t happen.

"A lot of my friends will be going round the pubs and doing the things most 18-year-olds do but I’ll be out in Afghanistan.

“This is what I want to do and I’m proud to do it.”

He said he would miss his girlfriend Nicole King, 18, the most when he was away.

The 4th Mechanised Brigade, which is made up of around 100 forces and 6,350 troops, is to begin a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan next month.

More than 600 of those soldiers are from the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (1 LANCS for short) making up one of the biggest sections of the brigade, which is known as the Black Rats.

The battalion, based at Catterick, almost exclusively recruits from the North West and has a sizeable contingent of Lancashire soldiers.

From the start of April, after the current Operation Moshtarak, or big push, has ended, the troops will be patrolling and providing security and partnering Afghan troops.

Most of the brigade are expected to be deployed to Helmand Province from March.

Lance Corporal Paul Pollard, 28, of Burnley, said engaging with local people would be the key to a successful tour.

He said: “I went to Iraq two years ago but this is very different.

"There has been a lot of training and we have even been learning about the cultural aspects of Afghanistan.

"We have all been taught phrases and greetings and that will be good on the ground.

“In Iraq there were problems because we looked like the enemy.

“Now we’re are taught some of the local language, the correct posture when speaking to people and making eye contact.

“This tour is not about being aggressive but about maintaining order and helping local people.”

The former Mansfield High and Burnley College pupil said IEDs, crude booby traps and bombs planted in roads and paths, would be the main danger.

And he said the final training was going well: “We are now on our last exercises and we have been smashing it.

"We are all a little scared but it is good to be scared because it makes you train even harder.”

Lance Corporal Pollard is getting married to his fiancee Amy Robinson, 25, next year.

He said: “She is very supportive and knows that I love what I do.

"After I come back, we are hoping to get a house in Burnley.”

Lance Corporal Alex Winterburn, 27, of Cherry Tree, Blackburn, has been in the army for six years.

The former St Wilfrid’s High School pupil said: “I have been to Iraq and Northern Ireland but this will be a lot more serious.

“We are expecting it to be very dangerous. We’re now in the final exercise building up for our six-month tour.

“I am ready for it now and just want to get out there.”

Lance Corporal Liam McFarlane, 20, of Harle Syke, Burnley, is attached to 1 Lancs from 33 Engineer Regiment and is among the team that will be called on if soldiers find a deadly IED.

He said: “If the soldiers come across something that they are not happy with in the road then we deal with it.

"If we can confirm it is an IED then we call in the bomb disposal unit.

“It has been pretty intense training but we are all looking forward to it.”

Kingsman Lee Southworth, 30, of Great Harwood, will be driving a tanker containing 7,000 litres of diesel to help refuel vehicles on the front line.

The former Rhyddings High School pupil said he is proud that he is likely to be the only Accrington Stanley supporter in Afghanistan.

He said: “I’ve got a signed Stanley shirt that I will be taking out there. There won’t be many other fans there, if any.

“When I’m driving the tanker I will always be under escort.

"I’m not expecting it to be easy at all out there, in fact there is going to be a lot of enemy contact. But it is something that I love to do.”

Kingsman Southworth is married to Rebecca and his son Charlie Jack will be two on Wednesday.

He said: “I will really miss my family and it will be probably harder knowing I’ll miss my son so much.

"I also want to tell my wife that I’m sorry that I wasn’t home on Valentine’s Day and that I really love her.”

He used to live at the Plough pub in Oswaldtwistle which his mum Heather Carr ran.

Other Lancashire soldiers will be joining the efforts on the front line in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Lee Blackstock, 27, and Sergeant Joel Burnside, 31, are part of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards.

Former Norden High School, Rishton, pupil Lance Corporal Blackstock, of Great Harwood, said: “I am part of a recon platoon.

"We are not going for traditional war fighting but we are going as part of a police monitoring team, helping them with their patrols.”

His wife Catheryn is due to give birth in May, just after their tour has started.

He added: “I am apprehensive ahead of every tour and this will be no different.

"I will be leaving my wife and daughter Kayleigh, seven, back home which will be tough and it will be very difficult to be away and not see my new baby.”

Father-of-two Sergeant Burnside, who lives in Ewood, said: “The biggest worry is IEDs. It is on everyone’s mind.

"But the kit is getting better and our training is getting better.”