BRAVE Chester-based soldiers have beaten all the odds on the frontline in Afghanistan after surviving two bomb blasts in two days.
Soldiers from 10 Platoon D Company of 1st Battalion Royal Welsh who are based at Dale Barracks, Liverpool Road, Upton, have spoken of their admiration for the Mastiff armoured vehicle that saved their lives.
The platoon were on patrol in the heavily armoured vehicle earlier this year in the dangerous Babaji district of central Helmand, when it was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) in two separate incidents.
Platoon commander Lieutenant Mark Lewis, 26, survived both explosions. He said: “The first IED strike blew the Mastiff across the road. I was top cover at the time and blown out of the turret but stopped from landing in the nearby field by the cam net. Once the dust settled I could hear the lads in the cabin. I dropped down fearing the worst, not knowing what I would see next.
“Thankfully they were all okay, with only minor injuries and the next day we were all back out on patrol.”
The heavily-armoured, 6x6 wheel-drive protected patrol vehicle, carries eight people, plus two crew, is used to transport troops and protect large convoys as well as directly engaging the Taliban with its advanced weapons systems.
Lt Lewis and his men were back on duty the next day in another area of the province which was known to have IEDs.
He added: "I was more than happy to go outn again in the mastiff after the first explosion because I knew that it would keep me safe. This time I was out with my platoon which was split into two separate Mastiffs. The area we were in was known to have IEDs and as we were calling in for support we came under fire. As we were manovering my Mastiff to get into a better position we were hit by one of the IEDs. It wasn't particularly nice getting hit but at the end of the day the Mastiff did its job and took the brunt of the explosion, which saved our lives.”
Fusilier Danny Hughes, 19, from Ellesmere Port, was driving the vehicle during the second blast.
He said: “This is a good bit of kit. When we hit the device we were all shocked but we soon realised that everybody was ok and we just got on with our job.
“We are confident in the protection that this vehicle gives us against IEDs and we are all living proof that it works.”
All men have since returned from Afghanistan to the Chester-based camp and their respective home towns after finishing their tour of duty in April.
Members of the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh were commended for their work in Afghanistan by Her Majesty The Queen at a thanksgiving ceremony at Chester Racecourse earlier this month.