Brave Shropshire marine saves soldiers’ lives
Saturday 31st July 2010, 11:31AM BST.
A Shropshire Royal Marine saved the lives of fellow soldiers in Afghanistan after spotting and disarming a roadside bomb laid by insurgents.
Jamie Slater, from Telford, was working with the Afghan National Army in Sangin when he spotted a rebel soldier had dug in an Improvised Explosive Device.
The 22-year-old then used his expertise to recover and dispose of the deadly explosive.
News of his brave actions came as hundreds of UK troops attempted to push Taliban insurgents out of a stronghold in southern Afghanistan. The mission, Operation Tor Shezada, is now in its second day and military chiefs said it began well.
Marine Slater, a member of 40 Commando, said: “While I was on watch with an ANA soldier we spotted from his watch point signs that an insurgent had dug in an IED.
“We had a high vantage point which means we can scan an area for activity. Together we were able to recover the bomb and thankfully it didn’t cause any casualties.
“It was a fantastic result given the amount of terrible damage that the IEDs can cause to service personnel out here.”
The marine, who works extensively with the ANA, said despite initial misgivings he now totally trusted them.
“We get on well with them, they’re good soldiers,” he said.
“They’re very good at certain things, like looking for IEDs and signs that indicate that an IED might be present.
“I was a bit apprehensive about working with the ANA at first, but that’s been swept away now. I definitely trust them.”
Most Commented
- Shropshire Council will face £8m redundancy bill
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
This is my son and I am so, so proud of him and what his colleagues are doing out in Afghan. Go 40 Commando in Afghan!!! Stay safe and come home to a Hero’s welcome in October!!! Trudy Slater
Report abuse
I am so proud of my brave Grandson and all in 40 Commando… Come home safe lads. Jean Slater
Report abuse
Jamie is my nephew and I couldn’t be more proud of him! Just hurry up and come home safe Jay and all the troops out there.
Report abuse
To save our brave men & women getting killed or badly injured, by these crued I.E.devices, and as the tailban are not man enough for man on man attacks, Why not make any captured tailban, defuse the IED`s, least we stop losing our brave men and women. If the moan thats wrong, tough, its wrong using this type warfare.
Report abuse
I think you’d find that would represent a pretty serious breach of the Geneva Convention.
I don’t think that the answer in dealing with terrorists is to lower our moral standards to meet theirs.
Well done to Jamie for doing his job and doing it well. I hope he and his colleagues come home safely.
Report abuse
thankyou Jamie for your bravery,and helping to protect 40 commando ,my grandson is there with you,hurry up and come home safe we are so proud of you all .
Report abuse
Jamie is my best mate and i am really proud of what he is doing!
Report abuse