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A salute to heroes of Afghanistan (gallery)
AFTER their gruelling six month tour of Afghanistan this was their moment of glory. Six hundred members of the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (2 Yorks) – Fylde's adopted fighting sons – formed a band of brave brothers as they paraded at Weeton Barracks in front of friends and family.
The Afghan medal is awarded for first time service and yesterday around 200 troops serving received the honour from Major General Andrew Farquar during the service.
See our gallery from the medal ceremony
The battalion spent their time mentoring the fledgling Afghan army in Helmand Province in the south of the country. Members of 2 Yorks, also known at the Green Howards, advised Afghan commanders on tactics to fight the Taliban in the demanding Afghan terrain.
The battalion was also heavily involved in the Operation Mar Karada, during which the Afghan town of Musa Qala was wrestled from the control of the Taliban.
Dangerous work in the town included disposing of drugs, arms and munitions.
Troops enabled a school in the town to be reopened, allowing children to return to their classrooms.
A telecommunications mast in the town has also been fixed and work is ongoing to ensure its health centre can begin treating people again.
Their determination in the face of adversity was marked as wives, girlfriends, children and parents turned out for the presentation.
Cpl David Percival, 28, was presented with his Afghan medal in front of his wife Catherine, his three-year-old daughter Olivia and his parents. He worked in the communications core throughout the deployment. He said: "Everyone has worked very hard for their medal and they all deserve it.
"It was the first time I have been involved in proper warfare. Once you get used to it, you get over the shock and can get on with the job.
"My job was to man the communications. If you don't maintain contact, you don't know where everybody is and someone could get injured.
"The hardest part of going away was being apart from all your family."
Tragically, the battalion lost two soldiers in action during the tour, Sgt Lee Johnson and Cpl Damian Lawrence. Another two soldiers, who were attached to the regiment, also died in action. One soldier who had previously served with 2 Yorks was also killed in Afghanistan.
Sgt Johnson, who was 33, and a father of two young children, died just a fortnight before Christmas.
He was taking part in the operations to recapture Musa Qala when an explosive device, thought to be a mine, detonated under a vehicle he was travelling in alongside another soldier.
Cpl Damien Lawrence, 25, was killed two months later while taking part in an operation to clear explosive devices from a compound.
Since returning from Afghanistan the soldiers have attended a memorial service for their fallen colleagues and they remain in the forefront of their mind.
Cpl Percival added: "I'm proud because of what we've done and very proud for the lads who didn't make it back.
"It was a great loss to the battalion. As soon as you get back you think about what has happened and what we have done."
His wife Catherine says she is extremely relieved to have him home.
She said: "Today is something we will never forget. It was a big relief when he came home.David was on patrol when one of the soldier was killed.
"Having him home was like having a huge weight lifted from your shoulders letting you breathe again. If I had my way he wouldn't be going anywhere for a long time."
Cpl Joey Harvey, 20, spent the deployment mentoring members of the Afghan army.
He said: They have progressed in a lot of ways and hopefully in 2009 when we go back they will have progressed further.
"It was very difficult. All the lads kept each others morale up.
"It is brilliant being back home. It is very hard to be away for six months. Obviously its great today having all your family here."
Sgt Emma McDonald, 29, travelled to Afghanistan to help support troops fighting on the front line.
Her brother Oliver was fighting in Helmand with a different battalion at the same time.
She said: "It has been a long six months. Our parents were especially worried because there were two of us. We didn't get the chance to see each other.
"I've been based in Kosovo before but this is completely different. It was a lot more difficult and there was more fighting involved this time."
Lt Col Simon Downey, who led the troops in Afghanistan, says he is extremely proud of the efforts of his soldiers throughout the deployment.
He said: "It has been a great day which allows us to reflect on what has been a very difficult but highly successful tour.
"We can all take pride in the work we have done with support from home. We paid a high price with the loss of five colleagues. Having travelled as a group of comrades and trained as a group we need to take time to think about them and comfort their families.
"Afghanistan is a difficult and dangerous place to work, but we have helped to move things forward."
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
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