On The Front Line

Introduction by Lt Jon Dolphin
Rfn Toby Cowan is part of the signals det. with Salonika Company. This doesn't mean he's stuck inside Camp Bastion sorting out radios. In fact, as an infantryman, it means that he's out on the ground patrolling as well as being stuck in Bastion sorting out radios. Unlike most of the soldiers in the rifle platoons, he is required to wear two hats and wear them equally well. Below is his account of one of his more lively patrols.

Main Story by Rifleman Toby Cowan
It's 05.30 hours, 5°C and its time to prep the TLZ (Tactical Landing Zone) patrol vehicles. I've got my softy (thermal) jacket on under my combat jacket along with my Osprey body armour. With ammunition and water my basic rig weighs 25kg. However, two months into the tour and I'm used to the extra weight.

The radio was handed to me by yet another well wrapped up figure. I carry it over to the WMIK (armoured Landrover with guns on) and using a bit of brute force pull the back bin open, climb inside and, with icy hands, I start to set the radio up. I do a radio check with zero (our command post) and after receiving “radio check OK”, begin fitting the Electronic Counter Measures (ECM).

With the electronics in place, I then start to fit the GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) on its rotating turret. The gun fitted, I lock it off to stop it swinging about. It's now 05.55 hours. Ensuring my flask is filled with hot java and all my warm kit on we move to the loading bay. “SHOW GUNS CLEAR” the commander bellowed. I clear my GPMG and he examines it. On the order “ease-springs” I close the top cover, let the working parts forward and fire off the action. “LOAD”, I lift the top cover and place a 200 round belt of 7.62mm onto the feed tray. Slamming the top cover down, I give my vehicle commander the thumbs up and we pull away through the main gate and out into the desert.

Shortly after leaving camp, we seemed to be travelling a lot faster than usual and the driver's hand gestures indicated there was a problem. The clutch had gone and we were faced with a decision. Get towed back in, or bump start the vehicle and head back the short distance to camp by ourselves. The first option would mean abandoning the patrol and hence protection to incoming aircraft, so we chose the second. That is where the fun started.

The driver had to start us in 3rd gear and without a clutch, that's where it would stay. As we picked up speed, I realised that this was going to be fast trip back. We flew down a hill into a small gravel dip and then across a massive sand dune. My feet were wedged against the side of the wagon as we ploughed cross country. The ground flattened out, but we carried on racing along.

The warning for the bump came too late. I flew a good few feet into the air and landed on the turret. I was ready for the second bump and with it, I couldn't help but shout “YEE HAWW”. With a massive grin on my face, I then saw a dip - a really, really steep dip. My stomach rose into my chest as we flew down the hill.

“YEEEEAAAAAAAAA WOOO HOOO!” this was the best thing since sliced bread!

All too soon, we were onto the road leading back into Bastion - fun time over. We flew into camp controlling our speed as best as we could and finally stopped the vehicle in the un-loading bay. The commander asked me if I was ok. I still had water in my eyes and a grin like I had just won the lotto. We took the vehicle in and that was the end of a memorable patrol.