Scots soldier in Afghanistan mine blast says Warrior protected him

MCV 80 FV 510 (WARRIOR)

An Aberdeenshire soldier who survived after his armoured vehicle hit a mine has spoken about his experiences.

Sergeant Wayne Forbes, 38, from Newtonhill, was on a six-month tour of Afghanistan with The Highlanders, the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, when the incident happened.

He said: “I was a Warrior sergeant in Afghanistan and we sometimes had to take the vehicle into some very dangerous areas.

“On April 1 we were in the Musu Qal’ah Wadi when a mine exploded underneath us. There was quite a jolt but thankfully the vehicle protected us.

“There were five of us in the Warrior but we were all fine. The only injury I sustained was a dislocated shoulder and a broken nose.”

The father of three flew back to his base in Germany for treatment, where he had an emotional reunion with his wife Tracey and children Christopher, 16, Carla, 11, and Nicole, nine, but within weeks he had returned to the desert in the north of the Helmand region of Afghanistan.

The former pupil of Harris Academy in Dundee said: “I wanted to get back as soon as possible as it was my last tour and I didn't want it to end like that.

“Being in Afghanistan was actually exciting but I never forgot the seriousness of the situation.

“It wasn't always mayhem, at night we slept in the desert under the stars, sometimes we would just look at the stars, it was so peaceful and quiet.

“It was an amazing contrast to when we were involved in combat. It was sometimes very surreal.”

Captain Dougie Watson, second in command of The Highlanders B Company, paid tribute to the work his soldiers did during the tour.

He said: “It’s been a very demanding and challenging six-month tour in extreme conditions.

“We have already made a difference because we could get to places others couldn’t because of the Warrior vehicles we were using.

“The guys have done exceptionally well and have proved themselves on many occasions. They are a real pleasure to work with.”

Sgt Forbes is currently on post-tour leave with his family.

He said: “I am delighted to be back with Tracey and the kids again. I was able to stay in touch with them from Afghanistan by internet and the phone but it’s not the same as being here with them.”

Mrs Forbes added: “We are all just so happy that he’s back, this was his last tour so we can all be a family again.”

The commander of British forces in Afghanistan said yesterday he could use an extra brigade of 4,000 troops in the fight against the Taliban.

Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith said he could “certainly” find enough tasks for another brigade, which could be “easily consumed” within the armed forces serving in southern Afghanistan.

There are around 8,000 British soldiers serving in Afghanistan, half of whom are based in Helmand.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said last week he had “no plans” to announce extra British troops for the country.

Brig Carleton-Smith said: “Currently we’ve got deployed in the region of 4,000 troops supporting 4,000 Afghan soldiers.

“I think we could probably easily consume in Helmand another brigade, and I think that probably forms part of the International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF’s) wider planning for the future of southern Afghanistan.” Asked how many troops a brigade would contain, Brig Carleton-Smith said between 3,000 and 4,000.

He added: “I can certainly find sufficient tasks in Helmand today to use an additional brigade.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said yesterday: “The UK is the second largest contributor of forces to Afghanistan.

“Our troop contribution to ISAF is kept under regular review by the chiefs of staff and their advice to ministers has always been followed.”