Fylde soldiers in war display

Soldiers based on the Fylde coast will be central to a new display highlighting the everyday needs required to keep a British Army base running.
By Gareth Vickers
Published 8th Sep 2013, 09:00 BST
Kingsman Sam Taylor with the kit he would need on a 24 hour patrol in Afghanistan.Kingsman Sam Taylor with the kit he would need on a 24 hour patrol in Afghanistan.
Kingsman Sam Taylor with the kit he would need on a 24 hour patrol in Afghanistan.

Soldiers from Weeton Barracks, home to the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, will feature in War Story: Supplying Frontline Afghanistan, at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) in London.

Soldiers featured include Kingsman Sam Taylor, part of Camp Bastion, the huge British military base the size of Reading in the Afghan desert.

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He said: “So much effort and hard work goes into running a camp like this – whether it’s the logistics of keeping everyone hydrated in temperatures exceeding 50 degrees or the complexities of moving equipment, ammunition and supplies around the war-torn Helmand Province.”

The display features new material including photographs, interviews and time lapse footage collected by IWM staff on a series of expeditions to Afghanistan in 2012 and 2013.

It is the first time since the First World War that IWM teams have visited an active conflict zone.

Museum historian Mandy Mason added: “We wanted people to look at the issues of supplying troops in forward areas. As part of that part of the display, it included troops from the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, working in the stalls supplying ammunition and supplies, making sure troops have everything they need for duty.”

The display opens on Tuesday.

‘Experiences remain indescribable’

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Diane Lees, director-general of IWM said: “Through War Story, servicemen and women are given the opportunity to describe experiences that for many of us remain indescribable.

“IWM has been collecting personal stories of conflict in the form of letters, diaries, photographs and objects since the First World War.

“Nearly 100 years on staff and curators from IWM went out to the frontline once more to collect and record stories of war to preserve them in our collections so that future generations can know more about serving personnel’s experiences of the conflict.

“This display features material collected by our curators as recently as spring this year.”

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Related topics:SoldiersFyldeBritish Army