TA soldiers return to heroes welcome

3:54pm Tuesday 26th February 2008

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Croydon TA soldiers returned from helping fight the Taliban in Afghanistan to the open arms of their children, wives, husbands and loved ones.

The 151 transport regiment, based at Croydon Regimental HQ, were tasked with the upkeep of motorpool vehicles in Kabul and Kandahaar.

“For me it was really a busman’s holiday, what I do at home is pretty similar to what I was doing over there."

Warrant Officer Class 1 Drew Johnston

Nicknamed "Kabul Cabs" they had to give vehicles a "mini-MOT" every 28 days to ensure operational capability was 100 per cent.

The company was attached to a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers vehicle maintenance workshop, whose mission was to maintain more than 150 vehicles belonging to a variety of different nations.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Drew Johnston was deployed with more than 50 of his fellow soldiers in August last year. He survived fierce onslaughts from Islamic jihadis, harsh desert temperatures and the freezing mountains above the country's capital, Kabul.

In his civilian life WOC1 Johnston is a vehicle inspector for the Freight Transport Association.

He told the Croydon Guardian: "At night, our main problem was trying to keep the diesel from freezing. The action was mainly in the south, Helmand province and around that area. We would hear of attacks on the radio and in the papers and it was truly worrying.

"One morning at breakfast on January 15 we heard a loud explosion that rattled the windows next to us. It came on the radio that an explosive device had been used on a civilian contractor's convoy.

"Teams were instantly dispatched via armoured land-vehicles to investigate and scout for any survivors. Luckily, there were only injuries and no fatalities.

"Within 30 minutes Blackhawk helicopters were overhead and providing support, the casualties were then brought to our compound by chopper and treated in our medical wing.

"For me it was really a busman's holiday, what I do at home is pretty similar to what I was doing over there. Now I'm going to have some post-op relaxation and take some time to enjoy my family before I go back to work."