Stories from the soldiers

Mar 31 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SERGEANT CRAIG WEIR (32), ABERFELDY

BRAVO Company sergeant Craig is no stranger to the heat of battle but this time he’s got personal responsibilities on the home front.

The one-time Breadalbane Academy pupil’s fiancee, Emma, is expecting their baby in late July.

Craig, one of the more experienced Black Watch personnel, said: “We have a baby on the way so it would be nice if my R and R time coincided with the birth.

“Emma might not be happy with me going but she’s supportive and totally onside with the army thing. She’s never asked me to get out. As much as she’ll miss me, Emma knows it has to be done.

“We’ll stay in touch with the satellite phone and internet but I’ll still look forward to the blueys.”

Aberfeldy is also home to Craig’s mum and dad, Adam and Brenda Weir.

“I’ve been in almost 12 years and I’m probably one of the longer serving men in the company. I joined up at 20 after doing a few odd jobs and something at Perth College fell through.”

Craig was in Iraq for six months in 2003 and he said: “That experience should stand us in good stead for what lies ahead in Afghanistan. We lost guys in Iraq but the war fighting role had been toned down.

“We were something of an expeditionary force and didn’t know what we were going into.

“This time we’ll be taking the fight to the enemy and going into areas by helicopter where NATO personnel haven’t been before.

“Some of the younger and less experienced lads do turn to you for advice and I suppose the platoon sergeant is something of a father figure.

“There would be something wrong if you reached perfection in training but we are well prepared.

“As far as the battle is concerned, you drill it into the lads but until you come under contact you don’t know how you will react. We have tried to drill out the flight from the fight or flight response.

“We like to believe there’s a bit elitism about The Black Watch being selected for this roving role based at Kandahar.

“It’s the best job of the lot. We think we’ve got it because we’ve earned it.

“We’ve been training for war fighting and dealing with suicide bombers and IEDs (improvised explosive devices).

“Everyone is a bit blasé right now. If it happens it happens, tends to be the attitude. It’s only natural to be a bit apprehensive. But the excitement to get out there is pouring through everyone now.

“They’ve said goodbyes to loved ones. That’s out of the road and now they are geed-up and ready to get going.”

LANCE CORPORAL STUART EDGAR (19), BLAIRGOWRIE

STUART (19) hit the headlines when he survived a painful brush with an elephant during an exercise in Kenya.

And he’s hoping his good fortune continues during his first operational tour.

Former Blairgowrie High School pupil Stuart, whose mum Theresa recently moved to Dunkeld, has become accustomed to the “Elephant Man” wind-ups since his brush with death last year.

“This is my first operational tour and I’m hoping nothing happens to me or my friends.

“I had an escape in Kenya and hopefully my luck will continue. My mum isn’t happy about me going to Afghanistan. She’s upset and scared for me. But she knows I have to do it.

“Personally, I don’t suppose I really want to go. I’m a bit anxious and nervous. I’m not keen on the heat. But it’s part and parcel of the job and we’ve had a lot of training and I expected this sort of thing when I joined up.

“I’ve been told it will pass quickly and I’m as ready as I can be. I just want to get back safely with all my friends. We’ll be looking out for each other.”

CORPORAL DARRAN PASIFULL (22), BLAIRGOWRIE AND CORPORAL BRYAN YOUNG (26), ALYTH

THE Black Watch courses through Darran’s blood, with the former Blairgowrie High School pupil following twin brothers Sean and Wade into the regiment at the age of 16.

Four months ago, he became a dad and a long-term shoulder injury has put Darran’s departure on hold until the summer.

He said: “I was too young for Iraq. You have to be 18 before being deployed. I don’t mind going to Afghanistan. It’s the job and it’s exciting. It’s what I signed up for. I’m a soldier.

“It will be totally different from Iraq. There’s not much going on there now. It’s quietened down a lot. This is a war zone we’re going into.”

Craig and partner Jacqueline Higgins have a 16-week-old baby, Scarlett.

He said: “Scarlett is brand new and leaving them is the hardest bit. But I’ll have plenty money when I get back.

“The shoulder has been a problem for a while. I used to be a boxer. It keeps popping out but I’m doing physio every day and I’ll be ready to go after a three-week rehab course in Edinburgh.

“Mind you, Jacqueline doesn’t want me going and she’d be happy if I injured my shoulder again!”

Darran, who handles Javelin anti-tank and personnel weaponry, admits contact from home will be vital for morale, saying: “We’ll have the laptops out there with wi-fi in the camp.

“But it’s still good to write letters and get stuff like toiletries and noodles sent out from home. There’s not much point in chocolate because it will just melt.”

Close friend Bryan, from Alyth, was recruited by brother-in-law David Donaldson 10 years ago as a teenager leaving Blairgowrie High School.

He joined along with the Pasifull twins.

Bryan has had two tours of Iraq – Tellic 1 and 4 - and serves with the fire support group.

His friendship with Darran is reflected in naming his three-year-old son after his army pal. He and Tammy have another child, Shauney-Lee (6) and another due on April 12.

“It’s going to be hard missing the birth. I was there for the arrival of Darran in Belfast but was in Germany when Shauney-Lee was born.

“My wife hates this part of the job. Out of the six years we’ve been married I must have been away for nearly three of them. But the wives are in the same boat and help support each other up in Inverness.

“It’s easier going on tour if you are single. It’s hard leaving long-time girlfriends, wives and kids. But you can’t dwell on what’s happening back here. You have to keep your head focused on the job.

“Everyone has lost someone in action if they were in Iraq but we know what we’re there to do. If your number’s up, it’s up. That’s the way most of the guys look at it.

“Lads who haven’t had experience tend to go to higher ranks for advice. Some of the lads have never been shot at. But you can’t really say. Everyone reacts differently in these situations.

“It will be different from Iraq. The only thing in common will be the heat.

“The first leave date is the first target – we get two weeks back home to recharge the batteries and chill. Then you just want to get back in one piece at the end of the tour.

“It’s good to have close friends with you but it’s harder for the folks back home. Instead of having one to worry about they have three or four.

“It’s my third tour and it’s what I’m trained for.

“Nobody joined the army to sit about. The Black Watch seems to get the high profile jobs. I take that as a compliment.”

PRIVATE LIAM SALTER (18), SCONE, AND PRIVATE ANDY ROSS (19), PERTH

ANDY rejoined the regiment seven months ago after a brief interlude and insists all he ever wanted was an army career.

He followed father David into The Black Watch, with uncles and a grandfather also serving with the famous Perth regiment.

Mum Gillian, from Perth, shares the anxiety facing parents as the battalion heads out.

Rifleman Andy, who will be keeping an eye on St Johnstone results, said: “Mum isn’t happy I’m risking my life but she knows I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do.

“I’ve told her I’m bullet proof. And we’ve had six months preparation, probably longer, for this role.

“My biggest worry is the heat – I hate it.”

Liam, who also attended Perth Grammar School, was one of the last recruits to The Black Watch before the controversial amalgamation.

He recalled: “I joined The Black Watch but it became 3 Scots by the time I finished my training. But we all see ourselves as Black Watch.

“I decided to join up after leaving school and it’s coming up for three years now. I was in the battalion ski team in Switzerland around Christmas.

“The training out in Kenya was geared towards Afghanistan. The heat will be a challenge. It’s never warm at Fort George, even during the summer!

“But I’m looking forward to it, the closer it gets. If everyone else can do it, I know I can. We have been well prepared. Reaction times have to be down to split seconds.”

Liam admits parents Robert and Wendy harbour concerns. He said: “They try not to show me but I think they are worried. But they know I’m ready for it.

“My message for them is simple: look after yourselves.”

Like their comrades, Liam and Andy have packed their “comfy boxes” for Kandahar downtime.

Liam has packed away plenty books and dvds and Andy laughed: “My luxury is a duvet!”

PRIVATE DANIEL SHIELDS (20), PERTH AND LANCE CORPORAL BILLY KYLE (21), BLAIRGOWRIE

DANIEL left Perth Grammar School at 16 and joined up after a spell at college.

He said: “This is my first tour but I’m not bothered about it. Maybe I’m a bit nervous but it’s what I signed up for and now I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ve told my mum Sylvia the biggest problem will be sunburn. I will have the suncream but it’s didn’t work too well out in Kenya!”

The rifleman suspects the six-month tour will fly by and fellow 7 Platoon member Billy, from Blairgowrie, shares that suspicion.

“I was in Iraq for Tellic 9 and it wasn’t too drastic. Because of that experience I’m better prepared for Afghanistan. I know roughly what to expect.

“The Taliban will be tough opponents so it could be a bit dodgy but they’ll find out what The Black Watch is all about.”

Billy, who was on a previous posting to the Falklands, has known the well-known Pasifull brothers for years and he said: “There have been changes but I still feel I’m Black Watch. You’re proud to wear the hackle.”