A Shropshire soldier who has just returned from Afghanistan has spoken of his experiences in the war-torn country when he lost two of his colleagues – including his driver.

Mark Doran, of Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, a lance corporal in the Household Cavalry, celebrated his 25th birthday with his friend James Munday while undertaking reconnaissance work in the dessert.

• See also: Young gunner’s Iraq posting

But the next day, the 21-year-old was killed in an explosion while on routine patrol in Helmand province.

Mr Doran, who joined the army when he was 18 years old, had stayed at camp that day while Trooper Munday instead went out with the corporal.

He said: “He was wicked and one of the top lads. He was 21 years old on September 25. He was my driver and he passed away at the end of the tour – about three weeks to the end.

“It was quite hard to start with because I was back in camp and I was listening to the radio and getting casualties through but I was not sure who died. 

“I asked the medic, who said it was James. I felt a bit like I should have been there anyway but it was a choice the squadron made.”

Mr Doran, whose girlfriend Catherine Merkett, 24, wrote to him every day of the six months he was away, arrived back on November 5 to RAF Brize Norton and took part in a parade in Windsor on Sunday receiving two medals.

Mr Doran, who has also fought in Iraq, volunteered to go to Afghanistan.

He said: “In Iraq, it was not what I thought it would be like. I volunteered to out to Afghanistan because I knew it was still pretty hot and there’s a lot work to do out there and I wanted to fulfil all the training out there.”

By Rebecca Lawrence