MOST people would regard a month's trip to Kenya as a dream holiday - but not David Lawrenson. For the St Helens-born Grenadier Guardsman spent his time in the East African country learning about living and fighting in a hostile jungle environment.
David (21) was attached to C Company, 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment in the steamy jungles at the foot of Mount Kenya. They had to cope with heat, tropical rainstorms, insects, wild animals and dense jungle. And the training area was was several thousand feet above sea level, so the soldiers also had to get used to thinner air and acclimatise.
"The insects and the jungle were a challenge, but it was a great experience and I really enjoyed it," said former Carmel College student David who worked as a barman before joining the Army in 1995 and whose parents, David senior and Gillian still live in St Helens.
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