Midland soldiers in Basra prepare to pull out

Mar 20 2009 by Paul Bradley, Birmingham Mail

‘‘I may be sent out to Afghanistan in a few years and all I really have to gain from there is extra pay.

“At the moment I’m missing Alicia growing up.”

But for others in the regiment, Iraq is a learning curve all of its own.

Trooper Ben Lane, aged 20, from Evesham, Trooper Simon Ryland, 21, from Worcester, and Trooper Peter Shaw, 24, from Kidderminster, are all on their first operational tours.

Trooper Shaw, a former Wolverley High School pupil, said: “We trained pretty hard before we came out here but you never really know what it’s going to be like until you are here.

“The tour’s been good so far and very busy.

‘‘It has been a real privilege and an honour serving on the final tour of Iraq, knowing we are putting all the finishing touches to the work that went on before us.”