Soldiers are given heroes' welcomes (From Gazette Series)

Soldiers are given heroes' welcomes

2:41pm Thursday 17th April 2008 in News By Liza-Jane Gillespie

TWO former Rednock School pupils have received heroes' welcomes on their return from a tour of duty of Afghanistan, where they also served along side HRH Prince Harry.

Rifleman (Rfn) Tom Cale, 20 of Dursley, and Rfn Stuart Clements, 27, of Sharpness, returned from their six-month tour of the Helmand Province earlier this month.

Rfn Cale, a team medic and gunner with sixth Battalion The Rifles, served with the soldier prince at Camp Bastion.

He said: "We were told he was there but I didn't recognise him with the beard he had grown.

"We talked a few times but we were both there to do a job and he just wanted to fit in.

"He's a thoroughly good guy; a regular bloke. We may have been from opposite ends of the spectrum but both of us were doing a job to the best of our abilities."

Since their return to civilian life the two TA soldiers have spoken about their experiences of serving in the war torn country.

Rfn Cale said: "Life in Helmand wasn't as bad as I imaged. Conducting foot patrols at Musa Qualeh was really worthwhile and while personally I didn't encounter the Taliban, interaction with the locals and police achieved a lot.

"The conditions weren't great it depended where you were. Camp Bastion was nice we had everything hot meals and showers but then Musa Qualeh we were on rations and I didn't get a shower in two months."

Rfn Clements, of the seventh Battalion The Rifles, said the reception soldiers received from the Afghan people showed the importance of the army's presence in the country.

He said: "People told us we were doing a good job and that they wanted us there. The people welcomed us.

"In Northern Helmand we were keeping watch over a settlement and after a few weeks of being there the population increased. We obviously reassured them."

On their return home the two men were presented to HRH The Duchess of Gloucester at a ceremony in Reading where they received their Afghan Campaign medals.

Rfn Cale, a recruitment officer for the TA, and Rfn Clements, a builder, now have several weeks off before they return to work, but both men have said they would consider a second tour of duty.

"I'd like to return to Afghanistan but not too soon," said Rfn Cale.