During November 2009, six members of D Company mobilised to deploy to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 12. The formed sub-unit, Amiens Company, has received considerable media attention. As most readers are likely already to have heard much about the Company, I attempt here to include more about the London Irish members and their achievements.
Although we conducted much of our Pre-Deployment Training together, mainly in snowy conditions at Pirbright and Stanford Training Area in Norfolk, we were soon split up to join our regular receiving units and from then on had very different experiences.
The first to deploy were Rgrs Clark and Styles, who undertook a force protection role for the Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) teams. The significance of this role need not be highlighted, protecting some of the most vital assets in the counter-insurgency campaign, in a constantly threatening and arduous environment, often working as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and responding at short notice to incidents across the province. Both men were exposed to considerable danger but performed their duties effectively, suffering no casualties whilst responsible for their teams. However they both had close scrapes; Rgr Clark with a particularly menacing insurgent donkey, while working alongside the Afghan ‘Tiger Team’ Special Forces, and Rgr Styles getting more than a little surprise after stepping on a pressure plate IED. Fortunately the insurgent workmanship was not up to standard and, although the detonator exploded the main charge failed, leaving Rgr Styles (in his own words) to ‘have a think about things… for a couple of minutes, before just cracking on’. The reports received on both rangers praise their commitment and ability to operate alongside regular counterparts in the pre-formed teams they joined.
Amiens Company also provided troops to 1st Battalion, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, including Rgrs Ryan and Watling, the most junior deployed members of D Coy. They were attached to Corunna Company, responsible for holding ground in the south of Nad-e-Ali and occupying a string of small Check Points (CPs) from which they patrolled. Having been fortunate to visit both rangers I can confirm that they performed outstandingly well in extremely tough conditions… working with a bunch of northerners was no mean feat. Furthermore there was the frequent slog of patrolling in full kit, through ploughed fields and across irrigation ditches, whilst constantly remaining alert to the dangers around them and watching where they placed their feet. Rgr Watling proved his efficiency at identifying IEDs (fortunately pre-detonation), much to the advantage of his call-sign, although this barely made up for burning down a compound with a wayward mini-flare. It seems Rgr Ryan’s focus remained principally on weight-loss (good job he had 6 months) and by June he had already shrunk considerably, leaving his disproportionately large head (says me!) balancing precariously on top of an emaciated frame. Although funny, the physical appearance of both rangers was true testament to the arduous conditions they endured. That they did so with such professionalism should be a source of pride to both them and D Company.
In contrast Cpl (Two-Scoops) Angus ate his way through the ‘sunshine tour’ that was the Non-Commissioned Officers Training Team (NCOTT), mentoring Afghan NCOs in Kabul. I can say this with some authority as I shared a similar fate, working with the Afghan National Army in both Kandahar and Helmand, and also enjoyed the generous portions of American cookhouses. While the NCOTT tour was less arduous it had its own challenges requiring daily contact mentoring the Afghans, the ability to speak some Dari and super-human levels of patience.
Fortunately Cpl Angus was up to the task and developed a close relationship with his mentees, who named him Salman Khan, after the famous Bollywood actor, although it is still unclear how much this was due to his dancing. I was fortunate to work as liaison officer to both the Afghans and United States Marine Corps, which proved to be a doubly-interesting cultural experience! The increase in American manpower and resources over the six months was astounding, as was their commitment and drive to overcome the insurgency, and it proved to be a privilege working alongside them.
So while all six of us had very different experiences, I would like to think we all contributed in our own ways; protection of vital C-IED assets, the essential holding of mission-critical ground and long term development of Afghan forces, enabling them to step-up and take an increasing role in their own security, and of course thereby allowing us all to come home permanently.
But we are not all home yet, with two more company members currently deployed on Herrick 13, Cpl Sebukima and Rgr Simpson. We wish them all the best and look forward to their safe return, hopefully by Easter. Finally, I am sure that they, like those of us on Herrick 12, are proud of the tradition of London Irish Riflemen serving on operations and are exceptionally honoured to now also play a part in that history.
Pete Quentin.