With the Para's in Helmand - a review

The full title of this book is "With the Para's in Helmand. A Photographic Diary" and it's author is Craig Allen.

Before I start I must declare a bias. I was fortunate to serve with both 15 Para and 4 Para in the reserves from 1984 until 1990. The Parachute Regiment is a remarkable organization and one I am fiercely proud of. When I saw this book mentioned in a modelling magazine I was reading (Airfix) I immediately logged on to Amazon and ordered my copy.

It arrived two days later and I dove in. The first thing that impressed me about the book was the solid feel of a well made hard back book and the well composed cover sheet. The quality of the paper and the clarity of the pictures told me this was a well put together book, well worth the cash I had dropped on it.

The author has all the credentials needed to put a book like this together having served a full career himself with the Para's. He has been able to draw on his personal experiences in other theatres such as Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq to describe both in words and pictures the real life of a front line "tom" in "the Reg".

For the Military enthusiast there is a mass of crystal clear color photographs that provide all the detailed information you could ever need about the modern day paratrooper fighting in Afghanistan. The detail is all there from the mixing of different uniform elements to the wearing of both issue and privately purchased kit. Knee pads, tattoos, pouch attachments, GPS devices , Sig pistol holsters, it's all there. Anyone interested in modelling these fine soldiers has a wealth of information to use.

The text however is what draws you in to the daily grind and life of the soldier. No surprise Mr Allen uses the soldiers vernacular that he is used to. This means you will read about contacts "kicking off", being "licked out" after a particularly rapid advance and getting up "early doors" to start a patrol.

Without getting on his soapbox Mr Allen clearly explains the struggles the military have in getting sufficient assets on the ground to complete their mission. For example a common theme throughout his book is the shortage of helicopters for moving men and equipment. Rather like a bus service but running on a Sunday schedule.

Of particular interest will be the description of the weapons used by the Toms. One point that is very noteworthy is how the role of sniper has been adapted to the conditions and used to great effect to keep the enemies heads down.

I read this book in a couple of sessions. It's an easy read and the narrative is extremely well supported by the accompanying photographs. I don't think there is a single page that doesn't have at least one picture.

And one final bonus. You get a free "feel good" token as each sale of the book results in some money going towards the Afghan Trust which benefits the Regiment's soldiers and their families.

Buy it.