Shropshire Magazine

Rifleman Scott Empson on duty in Helmand Province.

Shirley Tart meets some men recently returned from doing their bit on the front line, providing vital back-up to the regular forces

The eldest was 43, just back from Afghanistan after his third overseas tour of duty. The youngest, a fresh-faced 20-year-old also safely home from the hot-spot front line and with sights set on a regular army career as a rifleman.

Lee Wickson’s mother Phyllis didn’t have one decent night’s sleep – never more than two hours, she says – during the six months her son was in dangerland. Husband Tony nods in agreement.

Scott Empson’s dad Nigel was pretty concerned when his lad donned combats and flew off to the Helmand Province danger zone, although he totally supports whatever the young man decides to do.

Just two examples of stories repeated throughout the land as, with their hearts in their mouths, families wave their young off to war.

But there is a bit of a difference here.

Cpl Lee Wickson with his wife Nancy and parents Tony and Phyllis Wickson.

Because Lee Wickson is now back to his ‘day job’, driving a minibus in the Telford area  much to the relief of his mother who at last can sleep soundly and not agonise through the long, dark hours. Meanwhile Scott from Bicton Heath, and a former student at the Priory School who is now hoping for a full-time Army career, previously worked in litigation credit management. As a fervent fan of Shrewsbury Town, he also had a Town shirt with him in the unlikely desert setting of Afghanistan!

Both men are Shropshire members of the Territorial Army and were part of the TA’s latest deployment in Afghanistan, the warring land now so high on political and military agendas. Lee joined the TA when he was 27, has served for 16 years and been to both Afghanistan and Iraq on past tours. His wife, Nancy, supports him totally, but joins his mum in relief at knowing that Lee has done his final hot-spot overseas tour with the TA.

Gordon Kaye with girlfriend Kate.

Then, there is Gordon Kaye, aged 37, the one with the tan, the medal, the commendation and the pictures which speak of days very different from a misty November in the UK. Another brave soldier back from Afghanistan, Gordon is also back in uniform  he is a police sergeant based at Telford.

And among his precious ‘souvenirs’ is the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and a certificate from the American department of the Navy. The citation, signed at the end of September, is for Gordon’s “professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as platoon commander 3rd platoon, Normandy Company, 4 Mercian Regiment.” It goes on to say that his actions contributed greatly to the security of Camps Bastion, Leatherneck and Shorabak life support infrastructure. And that “Sgt Kaye’s initiative, perseverance and total dedication to duty reflected credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

He was the first British soldier to receive the award from Brigadier General Nicholson, commanding general of the US Marine Corps.

No wonder girl friend Kate Øen is not only pleased that Gordon is safely home but is incredibly proud of him. She also found great support from other TA wives and girlfriends while Gordon was away.

Buddies

Scott Empson and Mark Francis.

Tall, quietly spoken Mark Francis aged 27, spent much of the overseas deployment alongside young Scott and the pair are clearly good buddies, which happens in service life. Mark is a farmer and has also spent much of his time working with children in care. As a TA regular, he is now hoping for an officer’s commission in the Army.

The Territorial men and women may be dubbed part-time soldiers but think on this: once in uniform, all those serving their country in combat are the same, to the enemy in particular. And these guys and girls are so often the unsung heroes in what can be the most dangerous and demanding conflict.

Apart from anything else, some of the most terrifying words in war zones must be ‘improvised explosive device’ or IED, regularly referred to in conversation.

A favoured weapon of today’s terrorist, the bombs are popular because they can be
assembled almost anywhere from easily available materials and, worryingly, you don’t need to be that technically minded to create them.

A terrorist can then walk away from a highly destructive device which has the potential to claim many casualties.

Sgt Gordon Kaye receives his Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Talking to some of our TA soldiers, every one of them had a story of a near miss, of searching for or investigating something else only find themselves tip-toeing through IED country. Indeed the lives of many of our brave young men and women have been claimed exactly in this particular, random way.

Yet survivors are often pretty dismissive of the grave dangers in which they might have found themselves. Their overriding concern is to help with the protection, training and structure of a devastated Afghanistan which for so long has had the international support of nations  around 40 at the moment  which have counted the cost in lives.

On December 12, there will be a formal welcome home at Copthorne Barracks for the men from 4 Mercian who have already done us proud and more than played their part.

And these are the bravehearts whose funding for training was going to be so casually slashed. There was a swift change of mind (an acceptance of the pressure of outrage) on that one.

And after talks with Army chiefs, Prime Minister Gordon Brown agreed recently to fund the full £20 million cost of training our reservists over the next year. And, we trust, for many years to come!