“It broke me”

I have just finished reading this poignant account of two brave soldiers, Jonathan Jenkinson and Mark Peters, who served in Helmand, Afghanistan. Their stories are a testament to the resilience and courage that our armed forces possess, but also serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of war.

Add Helmand: Tour of Duty to your watchlist

During his six-month deployment in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province in 2009, one event from the many horrors Steven Peters encountered stood out as especially devastating. As a sergeant with the Welsh Guards, Peters witnessed their interpreter being brutally killed right before his eyes. This Afghan individual was scheduled to take a leave less than 24 hours later, to reunite with his loved ones. Tragically, he became yet another casualty in this grueling conflict. “It shattered me,” Peters remembers. “It was like when you’re a child and you start crying, and you just can’t stop.

Nevertheless, this dreadful event was not a solitary occurrence. It would be later recognized that the grueling six-month tour by the Welsh Guards, characterized by an unusually high number of casualties – with 72 fatalities among them – constituted the bloodiest phase for British forces throughout the entire Afghan war.

To commemorate the ten-year milestone since the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan’s frontlines in 2014, I find myself drawn to a gripping BBC documentary titled Helmand: Tour of Duty. This moving production offers a platform for those who survived and their families to share their personal tales. It doesn’t shy away from portraying the harsh realities of combat life on a daily basis, and it delves deeply into the profound effects that this conflict has had not just on soldiers, but also on their loved ones at home.

According to Peters, who is currently 42 years old, the public generally didn’t grasp the day-to-day chaos that was unfolding. He explains that explosions from mortars and missiles were frequent, almost every hour, creating a state of constant upheaval.

A career soldier, Peters joined the Army in 1988 as a 16-year-old, retiring only last year. ‘‘Until then, the Army was all I’d known,” he reflects. When he arrived in Helmand in March 2009 he was sergeant of a recce platoon and a veteran of several overseas tours, including the Balkans, Northern Ireland and Iraq. “They were nothing compared to what we walked into in Afghanistan,” he says.

“It broke me”

The documentary unequivocally demonstrates this situation, a fact also echoed by veteran Jonathan Jenkinson, who refers to the province as a “merciless battlefield on all fronts.

Jenkinson, much like Peters, entered the Army fresh from school, quickly finding himself confronted with the harsh truths of Helmand. Serving as a color sergeant overseeing a fire support team, he remembers the heartbreaking incident where a young lance corporal lost his life to an IED (homemade explosive device) only weeks into their tour of duty.

He suggests that at first, the Taliban might have been testing or evaluating their opponents, which is why it took a few weeks for them to fully grasp what was about to unfold, according to his explanation.

Soldiers found themselves battling not only their enemies but also challenging conditions, the scorching heat, dust, and the ever-present threat of landmines. Adding to their struggles were pieces of equipment that sometimes seemed inadequate for the task, one such being the “all terrain” Viking vehicle they frequently relied on. As Jenkinson recalls at 50, “If we struck an IED, it wouldn’t withstand the impact.” Whenever they were inside these vehicles, he would constantly worry, praying fervently, “Please let us not encounter any IEDs.

In my perspective, I found myself once again witnessing a harrowing event involving the fearless Viking, Peters. A mission aimed at controlling a canal crucial for Taliban troop and weapon transportation came perilously close to disaster. Unfortunately, one of the vehicles plunged into the water during this operation.

It’s like when you’re a child. You cry… and you can’t stop

In the face of enemy gunfire, he recounts the desperate efforts to force open a sealed door as the situation inside was turning into a watery grave for those trapped. “All I can think about is that the Taliban are just 100 meters away and they might attack us at any moment. But also, I’m aware that my comrades, my friends, my brothers, are struggling to stay afloat.

Approximately five minutes later, we successfully opened the door and people started emerging. A few appeared to be hurt, while a few others drifted out without signs of life. Regrettably, we were able to retrieve them, but if the door hadn’t been opened within those two additional minutes, we would have lost eight soldiers.

The experience remains deeply distressing, as Peters acknowledges. “During those times, we were leaders, and a certain detachment was necessary; everything had to be compartmentalized,” he explains. “We couldn’t display vulnerability. We couldn’t reveal our emotions, because it could trickle down to the troops. And there wasn’t any time – after an incident like that, another mission would arrive in just six hours. It was unyielding.

Both men were equally aware of the distress felt by their family members remaining at home. Peter, who was then married to his first wife Leanne, had departed, leaving behind three young children ranging from one to five years old. Similarly, Jenkinson had a stepdaughter attending primary school and young sons with his wife Jess.

As a movie-goer putting myself in Jenkinson’s shoes, I’d say: “Of course, my mind often drifts to my loved ones, even when I’m on duty, but I have to keep those thoughts separated.

After being wounded in a back injury from an artillery drone during his tour of duty, Jenkinson’s sense of duty towards his team intensified. Following extensive medical treatment in the UK, he chose to go back to Helmand as soon as he was medically cleared. “It was hard for my wife to comprehend,” he admits. “It caused distress not only for her but for our entire family, but I felt compelled to return and contribute, ensuring my soldiers were well taken care of.

After coming back home, plagued by flashbacks and nightmares, he opted for private therapy sessions instead of losing control. “I’m grateful I didn’t go down a destructive path,” he admits. “My wife notes, since returning from Afghanistan, I haven’t been able to sleep soundly.” He retired in December 2013 following 23 years of service and took up work as a consultant for hostile environments, which entails traveling to risky nations. “I suppose I have an unquenchable appetite for hardship,” he says with a touch of irony.

In 2019, after going through a severe breakdown while still serving as a soldier, Peters decided to suppress the hardships he had experienced at home, planning to address them later on. He managed to pull through this difficult period with the help of extensive therapy. “I had to confront my vulnerability and fully open up,” he explains, “and it made a significant difference.” Now, he leads a tranquil existence in a Northumberland village, where he works part-time as a gamekeeper and for a local security company.

In August 2021, when they heard about the withdrawal of the last American troops, both men found themselves grappling with this news. Peters confessed that the announcement left him in a state of shock, saying, “Seeing it on the news made me feel dizzy.” He had friends and associates who were hurt or lost during their service, and he couldn’t help but wonder, “Was all that sacrifice for nothing?

Jenkinson found it equally challenging. Politicians, after all, get paid to handle such decisions. When you put your signature on the line, they decide where you’ll be sent and what tasks you’ll perform. Pondering it excessively might lead to mental turmoil.

They anticipate that the documentary will aid viewers in gaining a deeper insight into the genuine aspects of war. As Peters explains, “We’re just ordinary people, yet there is an immense amount of pain that often goes unacknowledged and overlooked.” Therefore, it was gratifying for them to share their own experiences.

2024-10-22 20:10

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