Once I get back I will only have a few weeks left in command of the company before I move on to be Senior Major of the Battalion. It will be very strange to say goodbye to the company after what has been a very hectic but incredibly rewarding two years. I don’t think I could have wished for a better sequence of activities over the two years than I have had. I have also been very lucky to have worked with a truly excellent bunch of officers, NCOs and soldiers of whom I think I am justifiably proud. The new job will bring a different set of challenges but at least I will still be with my Regiment which is never dull and always full of good fun…
Well best close, I have a Sector Security Meeting to go to with the Police and Iraqi National Guard.
Best wishes,
Nick
During the operations in Iraq, Maurice Benton and Joanne Goody-Orris, affectionately known as Mo and Jo, sent care packages filled with both luxuries and essentials to British soldiers on the front line. They continued this operation as the Coalition troops were sent into Afghanistan, and in November 2011 sent their 9,000th parcel to the front line. In response to the ‘morale’ parcels a number of soldiers wrote back, mainly to thank them for their efforts, but in some cases to provide a bit of detail about their life on the front line.
Captain Kit Kyte of the Royal Gurkha Rifles was one such recipient during Operation Herrick 9 in the winter of 2008.
Captain Kit Kyte
Recce Pl
2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles
Dear Mo and Jo
… I write this letter on behalf of myself and the men of Recce Pl who have all benefited from the ‘morale’ parcels and letters that you have sent… It is truly appreciated and you cannot appreciate the positive effect that it has for all of us, and myself in particular. It is the one thing you look forward to when you have been out on the ground for a sustained period of time, and it is the one thing no matter how small that gives you the opportunity to detach from the current reality and consider the real world.
So I shall now write a small amount of news from our time out here so far. Obviously the detail will be limited for operational reasons but I hope that it might give you a small insight into what we are about. Firstly, we must consider the ground and the operating environment out here. Southern Afghanistan is the most inhospitable region in the entire country with temperatures in the summer going plus of 50 degrees Celsius! You can imagine the impact it has on men who are moving tactically with kit and equipment that at a basic level often weigh in at more than sixty pounds, and that is just for a small scale patrol. We went on an operation early on for 8 days into bandit country with each man carrying kit in excess of 62kgs! The weather has now changed though, and is more bearable. However temperatures by day reach 18 degrees but drop below 0 at night so the change is one you can never get used to.
The land here is barren rock and desert for the majority with dust and sand in the air at all times, you stay clean for about 5 seconds once you step out of the gate, your lungs are filled with it all and the sun is blinding. The only areas of green are to be found down in the main Wadis (rivers – usually dry). The majority of the population live here in accommodation that can only be described as that out of Star Wars, compounds of mud with walls 2 feet thick, very hard to penetrate I can assure you. The people here in particular are extremely conservative, in that they live an existence that can only be described as medieval with the exception that they have electricity, motorbikes, mobile phones, oh and obviously guns! They are extremely hostile to us, and from my perception, having spent a significant amount of time out in places you wouldn’t really want to go, they are supportive of the Taliban who have an almost mob like grip on the population. The enemy are hard to see because in essence they come from the local population, they wear no uniform and you cannot distinguish them from local farmers until they start firing at you. The complexity of operations is extreme and the danger always close by. We will eventually win any fire-fight that they engage us with, they know this and so often adopt hit and run tactics and small scale ambushes, and then most cowardly of all the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These devices have been responsible for many Coalition casualties, but also many local casualties with children and women often falling foul of an enemy IED. Quite why they can respect the enemy when they are also being killed by them is astounding. I suspect they are in the terrible position of living in constant fear, terrorized on a daily basis. This is why we must continue to push the enemy back, constantly keeping him guessing, disrupt his mindset etc.
The job is extremely demanding and constantly challenging, we live on the extreme end of a volatile world but this is something we chose to do and if we don’t take the fight to them here then we will be doing it on the streets of London with greater consequences for all.
I hope this gives you a brief insight into the kind of existence we are operating in and why anything we can receive out here is of such benefit to us.
Once again can I thank you all for thinking of my men and I at this time, it is sincerely appreciated.
Yours aye,
Kit Kyte
Another recipient of Mo and Jo’s parcels was Lieutenant Anthony Gibbs, Royal Navy, who served on the front line of Afghanistan in a different capacity to many of the other ISAF troops.
Monday 1 July 2008
Dear Mo and Jo,
I write to you today to extend sincere thanks to both of you and to all of the people who contribute in any way, however small or large, to your campaign to support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course this letter also conveys the heart-felt thanks of all the members of the unit here to whom the receipt of support and comforts from home, especially from perfect strangers, cements our belief that we are genuinely supported by the British public and our contribution to operations here are valued and recognized. This, I personally feel, is the most important rationale and gives us a reason and determination to execute our duties with purpose and the feeling that we are, ultimately, making a difference.
Here in Afghanistan, our unit works closely with the Afghan indigenous armed forces on the front line. We are a small but specialist unit drawn together from men and women of all three services. We have a different raison d’être to our esteemed colleagues in Helmand Province, who provide a highly visible military presence designed at tackling the main fighting body of the Taliban, Al Qaeda and insurgency head-on. We are charged with tackling insurgency combined with the illicit generation of monetary funds that would eventually, in the form of weapons, find their way into the hands of those who wish to de-stabilise the region and ultimately provide havens and training facilities for terrorists worldwide…
Afghanistan in the height of summer is not an environment to be taken lightly. On average, in the run up to summer the midday temperature rises to a blistering 45 degrees Celsius. This is set to rise even further towards mid-August to the truly searing region of 50 degrees. This simply has to be experienced to understand how difficult it is to exist in these conditions, let alone wear armour, carry weapons and kit and remain at the top of your game. It is, as you can imagine, severely debilitating when you are trying to carry out your duties and look out for your colleagues. Conversely, the winters here see some bases where the temperature struggles to get above freezing and snow lies on the ground for 3 months or more. It really is a country of extremes with lowlands at 2,000 feet above sea level and the mountains at 14,000 feet where the snow never melts.
Once again thank you and all of your contributors for thinking of us and supporting us in our difficult task. I look forward to meeting you and thanking you in person.
I remain your obedient servant,
Anthony M. Gibbs
Royal Navy
Mo and Jo continue to send care packages to British troops serving abroad. After sending a large number of letters and parcels to the Gurkha units posting in Afghanistan they were awarded with honourary membership of the regiment. It is clear from this letter that their contributions
made a contribution to the morale of those on the front line.
Capt Kulbahadur Gurung
Op Herrick 14
30 April 11
Dear Hon Member Jo and Mo,
First of all, thank you very much for the parcel and lovely letter which you have sent us. At the beginning [I] was totally surprised, who and how this good parcel arrived in this place?… Once I opened the parcel boxes, I managed to get your letter and have a good knowledge about both of you. It’s really nice to read your letter and receive a fantastic parcel. It really made our morale high and we are determined to do our duties with pride and we will do it in a proficient manner. Now I also have a feeling that both of you are our parents, guardians and friends who are supporting us in a tough time… There is not such a word to express our happiness at the moment.
People like you two can make a huge difference in the Armed forces morale… Reading you letter made me very proud. You have great experiences in your lifetime serving in past wars and doing a fantastic job to help current Armed forces. I always salute both of you on your hard work and achievement.
Finally, my boys and I have a great appreciation … for your generous help and support. Your support made our life better and we are delighted to receive fantastic packs. Like you said, we will be safe here with God’s blessing…
Thank you,
Kulbahadur Gurung.
The war in Afghanistan is the longest running conflict included in this compilation, lasting over a decade. From the letters sent home by the soldiers that we can get a sense of the conflict changing over time. This letter from Marine Mark Kemp, who served with 45 Commando on Operation Herrick 9, provides us with his perspective on the situation in 2009, eight years after British forces first deployed to Afghanistan, and three years after they arrived in Helmand Province.
5/4/09
Good morning,
Well the weather isn’t very good today, it has been raining for nearly 12 hours so it’s a mud bath outside. Better get my wellies out of my box…
A patrol to a place we call Robin was cancelled this morning because the MERT (Medical Emergency Response Team) and IRT (Incident Response Team) couldn’t fly because of the weather, they can fly now it’s day time but it’s too late to go to Robin now, it takes about an hour to walk there because you have to go through the green zone and they would see the company coming.
I think a lot of the lads were glad because the last time we went there is when the RPG went about 3ft past me. But the OC then decided that he is going to send 5 troop on a patrol to duchess hill, which is a mine field. He wants to see where the dead ground is to our cameras (dead ground means where you can’t see from the FOB). I bet 5 troop are happy about that. It’s called duchess hill because a bloke from Whiskey company was killed there on Herrick 5 when W Coy were based at FOB Rob. I was talking to Reg the other day, he was on Herrick 5 with W Coy and when they couldn’t even come as far north as we are because there were too many Taliban positions around where the FOB is now and they could very rarely break through. So I guess it goes to show that progress is being made even if it is a bit slow. But Rome wasn’t built in a day.
It’s nearly time for Bob or Mad Bob as he likes to call himself to relive me from watch. This is the last letter I’ll send, because I’ll probably beat this one home!
Love you both,
Mark
In his letters home, Major Simon Bradley, Officer Commanding Field Squadron 2, 24 (Commando) Engineer Regiment, often wrote to his children to give them a sense of what daily life in Afghanistan was like for the Afghan people and for troops on the front line.
23/03/11
* See if you can read this out loud to mummy *
Dearest Matthew,
Thank you very much for your last bluey – I really like getting them from you and James because they tell me what you have been up to. Have you both had my last bluey? I drew a picture of my rifle and explained what it does. If you like it let me know and I will do some more.
Your writing is really nice and neat and I was interested to read that you want to be a footballer!
There are certainly lots of boys in the world who want to be the same thing! We will have to see if we can get you playing for a club; the more practice you get, the better you will be. You might also have to get a job before you play for one of the big teams!
Daddy is keeping very busy and we are enjoying helping the people out here in Afghanistan. They are very friendly towards us – especially the children. Many of the children have little and they only want simple things like pencils and footballs. When we give them these things they are very grateful.
It’s time I got back to work so I’ll finish my bluey by saying I love you very much and I’m missing playing with you and James every day.
Take care, keep being a good boy and I will speak to you soon.
With lots and lots of love,
Daddy
04/04/11
Camp Bastion
Afghanistan
Dearest Matthew and James,
I hope you are both well and still being very good boys for mummy. She told me on the phone the other day that you had been very good – especially when you went swimming again. Good boys – keep it up! I am really looking forward to going swimming with you when I come home. I have visited another school this week here in Afghanistan and we are looking to help the people there build some play apparatus for the small children. Do you have any ideas for me? It would have to be something we could make from basic materials; like wood and rope. Why don’t you write to me with some ideas? They would be really useful. I’m glad you like the Afghan children’s hats I sent back – mummy says they look great and you enjoy wearing them.
By the time you read this you will be on half-term from school. I know you are going back to England and staying with Grandma & Grandpa, and Granny & Grandad. I am sure you will have had a great time and I know there were some fun activities planned for you… I hope the weather was good for you in the UK. It is very mixed here in Afghanistan; some days it is very clear, with blue sky and lots of hot sunshine; other days it is quite cool because of the strong winds – which also blow up huge dust storms which are horrible! It also rains here sometimes, not very much. We are expecting thunder storms on Sunday. Those and the dust storms mean we can not fly around in helicopters and are stuck on the ground.
I have also gone out a few times at night. Most nights it is very clear and the stars are amazing. At the places with no lights I have to use special equipment to help me see in the dark… I will write about that in my next bluey!
Take care, be good and I will hopefully get to speak to you soon.
With lots and lots of love
Daddy xxxxxx
One of Marine John O’Loughlin’s letters from his tour in Afghanistan with Commando Logistic Regiment, Herrick 14 (March–September 2011), recalls his first patrol of Afghanistan and encounters with the local population.
Dear Clodagh
Op Baba 3 was my first foray on the ground and into the green zone … a two day planned operation to clear a compound deserted by the Taliban a number of months ago in order for its owner to return home … a simple hearts and minds number and within view of PB Karnica so with relative safety, a good warm for a first time. It meant flying out along with a search team and combing with Karnica’s team… The intel was that the compound contained up to 8 IEDs and that with the support of the locals and close proximity there would be little chance of getting into a contact… The infantry left around 530 to establish a cordon and by about an hour later I stepped out the rear gate of the base into Afghanistan… There were no nerves, just excitement and the comfort of being able to do what I’m best at doing … to flick that tactical switch and turn up the senses … scanning the world around … assessing … targeting … listening … watching for the normal or any lack thereof. The target compound was no more than a few hundred metres away but it’s only a matter of metres from the cross line befor
e you became fully immersed in this new world… You move from the haphazard of modern straight into ancient… The paths, the fields, the building’s and a people modelled and modelled on the generations before… You patrol through shaded lanes and dusty wall and skirt along fields in full poppy blossom… You watch the young kids running around, their mothers peering from the compound gates. You see the men singing in the fields weeding with no sense of hurry… The dogs, chickens and goats left to their own interests… The pace of life is a slow one, from morning prayers at 5am to evening every task seems to take as long as it takes.
We patrolled along the route cleared by those in front making sure to stay between the markers of white talc that show the safe lane – a careless step either side has led to many an unfortunate soldier… Even assured safety in the friendliest of areas is no guarantee. A friendly smile out here can be genuine or just a clever ploy… The first task was for the searchers to isolate the target compound. They do this to ensure there’s no command wires or pulls that could be used to detonate devices when we get close – you have to assume you’re being watched at all times and most time you are so busy isolating you know the only threat can come from within… While the isolation was being carried out we sat in a cleared location awaiting to be called forward and it wasn’t long before the locals started to come over… They’re a very curious people, not to mention peculiar. They approach some time with a greeting, other times without a word, and will just sit down a few feet or next to you and watch. Eventually one will try [to] converse and as is universal both parties try to communicate by repeating foreign words slowing, assuming to be understood… But you don’t need to understand to know when they’re taking the piss and it soon wears thin. I don’t like bad manners no matter the language or culture, it’s just a universal decency. The thing that really got to me was how they treated the three women that were with us. As a culture that treats the respect and protection of women as an almost sacred duty, it most definitely does not extend to western women. They would sit there and unashamedly stare and comment trying to engage a reaction from them… Word would spread and more men would appear to stare – I got to my feet on more than one occasion with my weapon clenched to prevent them from sliding closer or pestering the poor girls. If it wasn’t for the importance of keeping locals on die I’d have given them a fuck off that would be universally understood! I also had to keep telling local kids to politely fuck off… They just want to see what’s going on and if you let them, they’d stand right up beside any bomb. From these encounters I can see how the local population can be trusted. They want to appear to help out, but part of you suspects they’d do the same with the Taliban…
Letters from the Front: From the First World War to the Present Day Page 25