A Shropshire soldier is featured in a moving account of life on the front line in a newly released book by his comrade.

Author Kevin Ivison says Jason Smallwood saved his life countless times as he recalls his terrifying experiences in Iraq in Red One: A Bomb Disposal Expert on the Front Line.

Mr Smallwood, 29, who is originally from Hadnall but now lives near Cressage, said he was very proud to have been featured in the book, released this week.

He said it focused on Red One – a job in which Mr Ivison was awarded the George Medal after he walked over to defuse a bomb 100 yards away from where two Brit-ish soldiers had just been ki-lled, while also under attack.

Mr Smallwood said: “I joined the army in 2000. I originally joined as a driver. When I finished training I was immediately deployed to Northern Ireland for three-and-a-half years.

“When I left there I picked up my Lance Corporal and went on to the bomb disposal squadron in Germany. Once I finished training I was immediately deployed to Northern Ireland again for six months. I came back, had a month off, then was deployed to Iraq.”

Mr Smallwood recalls how he was second in command of the team when they came under attack by an angry mob as they set about defusing a roadside bomb.

“There was a roadside bomb which killed two British soldiers. Another secondary device was 100 yards from where the first one went off,” he said.

But just when they thought things couldn’t get any worse, there was a problem with the robot used to defuse bombs, which meant Mr Ivison had to walk over to defuse it manually.

“He had to walk down to it by himself,” Mr Smallwood added. “While this was happening we were getting shot at by snipers and angry crowds were throwing stones and petrol bombs.”

The men were praised for their actions, but following their horrific experiences facing death, both have battled with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mr Smallwood went on to serve in Afghanistan for four months in 2007 before leaving the army in 2008. He now works as a lorry driver.

He admits life has been struggle, but in recent months he has called on the support of Combat Stress in Newport which he says has helped him a lot in getting back on track.