Last updated at 13:57, Wednesday, 03 March 2010

A HERO soldier who is destroying explosives on the front line in Afghanistan has told of his pride in saving lives and serving his country.

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Lance Corporal Darren Mathie, from Haverigg, is playing a vital role with the Counter-IED Task Force, which finds and detonates roadside bombs in Helmand province.

The 27-year-old former Millom School student is second-in-command of the Royal Engineer’s search team, which is part of the larger task force.

The Taliban lay improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which kill and maim Afghan civilians and British soldiers.

The British Army set up the Counter-IED Task Force to study the Taliban’s methods and it has developed tactics and equipment, much in secret, to locate and destroy the bombs before they explode.

The Counter-IED Task Force members, which includes The Royal Engineers and The Royal Logistic Corps, have been described as “true heroes of the campaign” by senior army leaders.

L/Cpl Mathie, who is approaching the end of a demanding six-month tour this month, said: “We have destroyed over 150 IEDs on this tour alone. On one day we found and destroyed 14. I know that we are saving lives.”

The soldier joined the army in 2001. He now lives in Cambridge, but regularly returns to Haverigg, where many members of his family live.

Evaluating the Afghanistan tour, L/Cpl Mathie said: “It’s been a real rollercoaster of emotions. From the initial nervousness of the first patrol, to the adrenalin rush during a contact, to coping with the death of someone you know – it’s unlike anything I have experienced before.

“I did a search tour in Iraq, but it was very different to here. Afghanistan is much more kinetic and it keeps you on your toes a lot more.

“We are given so much training before we come out here. When it comes to doing it for real, we are totally prepared. Of course I still think about the dangers, but I am focused all the time. I have to be. I don’t want to put myself or my mates in danger due to lack of concentration.”

L/Cpl Mathie says an incident in Sangin sticks vividly in his mind.

He said: “We were searching the 611, which is the main supply route, and on one occasion we got to a junction and we came under contact from an enemy ambush. That was pretty scary. No one got hurt, though, which is the main thing.”

The army says the Counter-IED Task Force is fast becoming a critical focus of the Afghan counter-insurgency war.

Major Rob Philipson-Stow, second-in-command of the Household Cavalry Regiment in Musa Qal’eh, said: “They are real heroes of this campaign. The way they approach their jobs is phenomenal.”

Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Bex, head of the Counter-IED Task Force, said: “Everyone in the C-IED Task Force works flat out to look after the safety of the other soldiers. We know how much the guys value, support and appreciate the work we do. C-IED just has a culture of getting on with the job without complaint.”

Brigadier James Cowan, the Commander of Task Force Helmand, said: “The men and women of the C-IED Task Force are an extraordinary group of people.

“Selflessly committed to their dangerous work and utterly professional, there isn’t a soldier in Task Force Helmand who doesn’t hold them in the utmost respect for what they do and the way they do it.

“I am deeply proud to have them serving as part of my brigade, saving military and civilian lives day in and day out. They are some of the true heroes of this campaign.”

At the end of the tour L/Cpl Mathie is looking forward to returning home to his partner, Zoe Kennerson, in Cambridge and having a holiday.

His proud family in Haverigg, including mum and dad Julie and Clive Mathie, cannot wait to welcome him with open arms.

Mrs Mathie, 48, said: “We are very proud of him but very worried as well, as a few of the lads have been killed. I’ll just be glad when he is back.

“This is his fourth tour of duty in the Middle East, so he’s a bit of an old veteran.

“This is his third time in Afghanistan and he’s been to Iraq as well so he has done quite a bit. He absolutely loves it.

“He does IED clearances for the troops.

“The task force is keeping everyone else safe as far as possible, because these devices are left all over.”

Mrs Mathie said people in Haverigg and Millom are always asking about her son.

She said: “There is lots of support for Darren, everybody asks about him, the vicar always asks and mentions him at church.

“He plays football with Haverigg and he has some good friends here.

“He gets home to Haverigg quite a lot. We hope to have a bit of a party for him when he gets back.”

One of his two sisters, Vicky Mathie, 23, who is also now based in Cambridge, said: “We are all really proud of Darren. He has a really dangerous job and we are constantly worrying about him. He is coming to the end of his time there now and we are looking forward to having him back.”

Johnny Johnson, manager of Haverigg United FC second team, said: “Darren has played football at Haverigg all his life. When he comes back he always wants a game of football. He’s a good lad. He’d do anything for anybody. He’s one of the lads.”

First published at 13:14, Wednesday, 03 March 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk