Helmand: Tour of Duty

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2024

Documentary

Summary

The story of a single group of soldiers from the Welsh Guards who were deployed to Helmand Province, the frontline of the Afghanistan war, in 2009. The 10 soldiers share their unfiltered accounts, alongside testimony from their family members

Review

Frances Taylor

This documentary doesn’t delve into the politics, controversies and whys and wherefores of the war in Afghanistan. Instead, a decade on from the withdrawal of British troops from Helmand Province, ten soldiers from the Welsh Guards, who were stationed in the region in 2009 and fought in what would become known as the British Army’s bloodiest summer in half a century, tell their stories.

Their accounts of the comrades they lost and the injuries they sustained are hypnotic and disturbing. Several say they haven’t spoken about Helmand before, and likely won’t again. One is guardsman James Barber, whose recollection of almost drowning when a troop carrier overturned is unforgettably harrowing.

Their fight didn’t end after returning home. Struggles with PTSD, breakdowns and stories of lives forever changed are recalled with palpable hurt. Given that the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, the question left lingering is whether the sacrifice was in vain. As platoon sergeant Steve Peters asks: “What was it all for?”

How to watch

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Streaming

BBC iPlayer

Credits

Crew

rolenameDirectorHannah LowesEditorTom Dixon-SpainExecutive producerGwenllian HughesExecutive producerHamish Fergusson

Details

Languages

Formats

Colour