His name was Cpl Steven Dunn – like me an airborne signaller in 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron.
We served together in Afghanistan in 2010 and, tragically, he lost his life when an IED hit his Jackal. You’ll find his portrait on page 53, in the ‘Every face, every story’ feature.
I was the main troop sergeant at Headquarters Task Force Helmand at the time.
Remembrance is so important, and November is an opportunity to come together, pause and think about our comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice.
We also hold in our hearts the families and friends left behind – this time of year is especially poignant for them.
As a nation we have been remembering the dead for well over 100 years now – since the aftermath of the First World War – and I’m proud to see the country still unites in commemoration.
It’s heartening to see people from all walks of life wear their poppies, attend services and fall silent on Armistice Day.
But it’s especially important for us as soldiers as we think about the meaning of our service and this vocation we have chosen.
We can be called forward to put our lives on the line, and we must ensure we respect and look after each other in the same way as those who went before us.
Thank you to everyone involved in formal commemorations for all you are doing – and for helping to keep the memory of those we have lost, in ops past and present, alive.
Elsewhere, last month’s Cambrian Patrol was a great success story yet again (page 42). Well done to the participants and to 160th (Welsh) Brigade for organising the event.
There were many international teams entering again this year, showing the reputation of this outing as being one of the most demanding on the global military calendar.
The competition also hones the soldiering skills we need to meet CGS’s directive of doubling our fighting power by 2027 and trebling it at the end of the decade. From what I saw, we are well on the way to doing that. Keep up the great work!
