Soldier reveals Taliban torment

TALIBAN bombs killed two friends of Crewkerne soldier James Manley during his recently-completed tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Manley, 23, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, said their deaths provided a terrifying wake-up call to him about life in the military.

PROUD MUM: Valerie Manley of Crewkerne is looking forward to travelling to Edinburgh's Royal Mile to watch her son, James' medal ceremony. Picture by Len Copland
ACTIVE DUTY: James Manley of Crewkerne, who has recently returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan

He said: "We know what to expect, but when you first go out there, it's not until something like that happens you realise it can and does. To have it happen to friends you're out there with makes the whole thing very real. I went through training with one of them and the other was quite a good mate.

"But while you're out there you have to remain professional which can be difficult. You've got to put your anger somewhere else. You can't go out and get angry at the locals because it's not their fault."

L/Cpl Manley decided he wanted to join the Armed Forces when 14, after his father told him not enlisting was something he regretted. He also had an insight to military life from his uncle who served in the Royal Marines.

The former Wadham School pupil joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17, leaving a year later to join the Army. He completed a tour of Iraq in 2007.

The 3rd Battalion The Rifles, which consists of five companies made up of 80 people, is based in Edinburgh. Each of the companies are stationed in different areas of Afghanistan.

Currently the death toll of British military personnel in the war-torn country stands at 281. Fusilier Jonathan Burgess from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh was the latest fatality, shot on April 7 while on foot patrol.

Like Fusilier Burgess, L/Cpl Manley spends most of his time on foot and knows the risks.

He said: "We are at the front of everything. We're light infantry and we do everything on foot. It gets emotionally and physically taxing, but I enjoy the job I'm doing and I've never regretted joining up.

"Acclimatising to the heat of Afghanistan takes about a month and when you get back it's strange readjusting to the things here you take for granted, like mobile phones."

L/Cpl Manley will attend a medal parade on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh on Saturday, May 8. His family will come up to watch the ceremony.

He said: "The ceremony clashes with Yeovil Town's last away game of the season which I wanted to see, so that's a bit of a pain, but I am looking forward to it."

His mum, Valerie said: "We're so proud of James and very glad he's back. He has been through a lot and we do worry, but it's what he has always wanted to do."