THE BRITISH ARMY

JUNE TO OCTOBER, 2007

QUEEN’S COMPANY

THE GRENADIER GUARDS

The British Army, it was thought, would be perfect for Helmand province. From their extensive experience in Northern Ireland, they knew how to interact with people, and with their self-deprecating, informal approach, should be brilliant at winning hearts and minds. They first deployed to Helmand in 2006, when they were the only major military force in the province. They expected to stay no longer than three years.

The Ministry of Defence had kept reporters away from the fighting. But when the soldiers started releasing their own footage, shot on hand-held cameras and mobile phones, showing fierce fighting from tiny, isolated and almost derelict outposts, they were forced to change their policy. After over eighteen months of negotiations, I was finally allowed to join the troops in the summer of 2007.

The MoD weren’t the only ones who didn’t want me in Helmand. The BBC had also shown little interest. The trip only happened at all because I’d been supported by one executive, who had commissioned me before. Everyone else thought there was nothing to say or learn about the war in Afghanistan, and even less public interest. Only when I returned with hours of footage of battles that lasted for days was I given a slot in peak time.