Coverage of Brits in Iraq/Afghanistan.

[Mike S.]

Can any of our UK members give me some online links to good video reports/footage/documentaries on UK troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Stateside there is plenty on US troops, but you wouldn't even know that there are many other nations serving over there as well based on the dearth coverage on the news and documentaries etc.

 

[moz]

if you can get `channel 5 on demand`(google will bring it up) there is a good series running at the moment called Royal Marines mission afghanistan, its bang up to date.

 

[baronband]

Hi Mike,
not sure if its what your after but if you type in brits afghanistan into youtube there are hundreds of short clips in there. Its useful if you are just looking to check out the uniforms and equipment being carried.

Baronband

 

[Mike S.]

Thanks guys. The longer documentary coverage Maurice mentioned is what I'm really after. I'm familiar with the uniforms and equipment, but would like to see more in depth info on their operations and experiences etc.

 

[Don]

Hey Mike I posted about Royal Marines in the sandy place a couple of days ago over on General Figure Talk.(Alexander the Great)
It was from the documentary Moz mentioned and its up to date.
It explores the life of the soldiers and Marines (somebody slipped in a few Royal Engineers). Mostly based on their forward operating base so no bullsh*t about "Leaders" visiting, just the boys on the ground. Shows all uniform, small weapons, sweeping gear, use of dogs, helicopters (including British Apache) and general life in a FOB. This is a very heavy area for IEDs but the marines patrol every day and the bravest journalist goes with them.
If you can find it its compulsive watching. By the way UK television, news etc. show US troops and Marines regularly and we recently had a 60 minute documentry about your Marines in Helmand, but as you say(according to your journos), you are doing it all yourself?

Don

 

[Don]

Mike, this might help you get into the documentry Moz and I mentioned
http://www.channel5.com/shows/royal-marines-mission-afghanistan/episodes/venus-fly-trap


Hope this helps

Don

 

[baronband]

Hey Don
i for one am glad they do slip a few Royal Engineers in these programmes as they do an brilliant job over there (especially the CIED teams) often without the coverage of the so called glory units like the marines and paras.
Good series though, although a bit embarrassing when one of the ladies said "when the fighting starts i just hide and let the lads get on with it" oops.

Baronband

 

[Don]

John everyone there deserves all the recognition they can get. One of the Dog Handlers war from the RAF Regiment and wanted to retire his dog and take it home. Sadly his dog did not finish his tour.
Soldiers out there, men and women, are doing a great job. There are lots of Medics doing a sadly unrecognised job and there are plenty of women working with the local women which in turn helps the boys on the ground. Lets face it if you were a lady seconded from a warship and end up in an Afghan gunfight wouldnt you get your head down too.

Don

 

[baronband]

Hi Don, i couldn't agree with you more about everyone out there. I also think these programmes are fantastic as they give the general public a small percentage of an idea of what these people go through, including the civilians. I posted recently on your Alexander the great post about how much i admire the Royal Navy Interpreter. As for the young Naval lady, yes we all want to get our head down in a fire fight i suppose i was just surprised she was so open to say it on film (just being refreshingly honest i suppose). I thought one of Ross Kemp's last episodes in Afghanistan was interesting when he shared time both with the Royal Marines then the US Marines, he showed a good insight into how different they can be perceived (but he is not to everyones taste). Also the programme about the TA doctors in camp bastion was fantastic, these doctors and surgeons are making medical history and inventing new procedures as they work, fantastic people.

Baronband

 

[Don]

Just a small correction to my last post on here. Have watched the last part of this documentary about Royal Marines in Afghanistan and was delighted to see that my post about "Memphis" the dog was wrong. The RAF Dog Handler got hit by an IED while his dog was searching another part of their patrol. He managed to keep all his limbs and was flown out to Camp Bastion and straight home to the UK. The last part showed him being reunited with his dog after about six months as the RAF had decided to retire Memphis as he had completed 3 tours out their and he was given to Mick his handler as he had asked for the dog to be retired. Great to watch him getting to know the dog again.
Programme also talks about the Marines who did not return and the three men whom the journalist had got to know and were badly wounded. Very powerful story.

Don

 

[Scotty]

Mike, have you looked at the Ross Kemp in Afghanistan DVDs? in the second one he is with the Argylls D coy 2008.
Check it out it's good.
Scotty

 

[baronband]

Hi you could also watch the new series of Ross Kemp Returns to Afghanistan this year. He is an acquired taste but i think he gets the point across well, one of the episodes also shows him switching between the Brits and the Americans on patrol and the differences are very interesting!

Baronband

 

[Mike S.]

Great leads everyone, much appreciated. I am in the process of checking these links out now.

Cheers.

 

[Mike S.]

Mike, this might help you get into the documentry Moz and I mentioned
http://www.channel5.com/shows/royal-marines-mission-afghanistan/episodes/venus-fly-trap


Hope this helps

Don

Hi Don,

Unfortunately this isn't viewable in the U.S. via that link.

I've located a source for the Ross Kemp videos, and will watch those.

 

[Don]

Mike I just found this and hope it may help you find the programme we were talking about.
http://www.channel5.com/shows/royal-marines-mission-afghanistan

If it doesnt work give me a yell and I will see what else I can find

Don

 

[Mike S.]

Hi Don,

Cheers. Unfortunately ALL Channel5 programming is coming up with a message stating that it is not viewable by those of us Stateside. I'm enjoying the Ross Kemp documentaries however.

 

[Don]

Mike if you were a member of the US forces you will see a big difference between our forces in the way things are done. One thing the same is that the Army and Marines are run on operations by senior NCOs.
Will keep looking for a link for the Marines in Afghanistan.
We suffered a tragic loss this morning with what looks like an IED destroying a Warrior and killing six soldiers. A terrible loss to the families and to the boys still in the field.

Don

 

[Mike S.]

Hi Don,

Yes I read about the terrible news. Here is a run down for those who haven't:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ers-killed-in-Afghanistan-explosion-live.html

My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.

 

[stu]

Hi Mike,

The royal marines programme your after will be released as a DVD on 19th march . I found it on amazon here is the link http://www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Marin...sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331137191&sr=8-1-spell

Its very good

Stu

 

[Mike S.]

Cheers Stu.