HUNDREDS of East Lancashire soldiers, many of who have been in the Army for less than a year, are currently taking part in what is described as the 'ultimate war game' on the Canadian Prairies.

Next year, they tour Bosnia and will be on a high state of alert in case a war breaks out.

Reporter David Higgerson joined them...

TO the young men who make up the three companies of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment currently out in Canada, the tactical engagement simulation exercise is like a giant game of Laser Quest.

The only difference is that they know that one day the laser equipment could be replaced by bullets and bombs and one wrong move could cost them their lives.

With more than 2,000 sq kilometres of flat Canadian Prairies to prepare for war on, the sophisticated battle game is the nearest the men -- some as young as 17 -- will encounter until they are involved in a real-life world conflict.

Three companies of QLR are currently based at a British army facility about two hours from Calgary.

Two of them are fulfilling the role of the 'enemy' in the battle simulations. They have been sent out to Canada from their HQ in Catterick, Yorkshire, to provide real opposition to other companies and battlegroups from the British Army.

For anything up to five days at a time, the soldiers live on the Prairie while trying to tactically out-manoeuvre their rivals.

"Although it is with lasers, once you have been hit and your equipment bleeps, you are dead as far as the exercise is concerned," says 18-year-old Wayne Archer, a former Moorhead High School pupil from Church.

"It is very demanding and you do find yourself thinking about every little move you make as though it were your last.

"It has made me realise how important my judgement has to be. All it takes is one wrong move. I think we have all learnt that here but it is something you deal with and have to put to the back of your mind.

"It is the best thing I have done yet by far."

The exercise, which will be repeated again and again until the lads return to Catterick in October ahead of a six month tour of duty to Bosnia next March where they will act as peacekeepers, has also introduced many of the young war men to the riggers of conflict.

Senior officers say that while much can be taught in the UK, it is only when they have experienced something like the exercise on the Prairies that the soldiers will have any idea of what a real war will be like.

Andy Fraser, a 22-year-old from Shadsworth, has been with the QLR for six months.

He said: "this is my first placing abroad with them. This is the only place where we can go and train over large area using tanks and infantry and it is as realistic as it gets.

"I have enjoyed it so far, it is hard work.

"But it is proving to be everything I had hoped for."

Ryan Smithson, a former Norden High School pupil from Great Harwood, is also on his first trip abroad.

He said: "It is hard work and you have to cope with all sorts of things thrown at you.

"There is the heat to contend with, and the mosquitoes. It is stuff I hadn't thought about."

Grant Kenyon, a 17-year-old from Mill Hill, said: "Some of the locals here like us, some of them don't.

"It is OK in town but I am looking forward to going out in Blackburn when I get back home.

"There is nothing like going out in your home town really."

Many of the lads are opting to spend a week's holiday travelling Canada rather than trekking back to Britain.

Getting used to being away from your family and friends is something they have to get used to straight away. But for Duncan Smith, a 24-year-old from Great Harwood, joining the army has proved to be the best thing he ever did -- not only for himself, but for his wife Donna and their two-year-old son Joseph Peter.

He said: "I do miss them a lot, all the time in fact. But I needed a steady career which would provide security and I just could not get that back at home.

"I have tried various other things, like butchery and welding, but nothing has worked out.

"I have been with the army for just about a year and I think it has been the best thing I have ever done.

"It has provided us with security and has given me a career I really think I can do well in, but there is a price and that is that I am away from home for a long time. It makes our time back together very precious and I phone home all the time, so it is not as if we are not in contact at all."

A third company of QLR provides logistical support to make sure the operation runs smoothly.

That means roles away from the frontline for people like Alex Winterburn, a 20-year-old former St Wilfrid's pupil from Cherry Tree.

He said: "I have been placed on driving duty taking people like the majors around. It is different to what I normally do.

"I have been in the army two years now and have been to Northern Ireland, and am looking forward to Bosnia next year." After they return to Catterick in October, the squaddies have two months before going on to what is known as the 'highest state of readiness.'

In layman's terms, it means they will be the Army's first choice to send out to any conflict which erupts between December this year and December next year.

Currently, they are pencilled in to do a six month tour of Bosnia, although a review of operations out there by the British government may lead to that changing.