An Oxfordshire soldier found himself playing a very hands-on role in helping to increase security for villagers in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province recently.
Lance Corporal Chris Pennington (pictured), of 42 Field Engineer Squadron, 28 Engineer Regiment, found himself under fire for nearly two weeks as he and his colleagues fought to return three villages to locals after an insurgent infiltration.
The former Carterton Community College pupil, who is based in Hameln, Germany, ended up spending five weeks in the village of Chakaw – a name meaning crossroads in the local Dari dialect - in the Musa Qala district of Helmand Province. Under fire, troops had to clear the area of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) laid by insurgents across the village.
LCpl Pennington said: “The insurgents had laid them in areas children often used to play in. Once we had made the area safe we set about our main task of fortifying the place.
“We took over one of the compounds and constructed sangars to give us protection. We also had to make a park for the vehicles. On a nearby hill we made an Observation Point where we could view the insurgent territory. It took us 17 days – the first 12 of which we were under fire. One of the RPGs landed just past where I was working, but fortunately it was a dud.”
Local villagers were wary of how long the troops would stay in the village, with forces eventually forced to spend five weeks securing the land.
The Officer Commanding of the Military Security and Stabilisation Team (MMST), Lt Colin Boud of the Royal Navy said: “When we arrived the locals were very wary and some would not accept compensation payments for damage caused during the operation for fear of insurgent reprisals.
“When it became clear that our intentions were long term they were delighted. They are normal farming folk, who want to be able to live as such. They have very little support or sympathy for the insurgents who have no regard for their safety and are normally from out of the area.”
LCpl Pennington joined the army in 2003, and has already served one tour in Afghanistan, in 2006. He is due to go home to Brize Norton shortly and unsurprisingly he is looking forward to spending time with his friends and family. But he said: “I am also looking forward to getting back out here and finishing the job we have come to do.”
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