Shropshire TA soldiers flying out to Afghanistan
A county Territorial Army soldier today spoke of his expectations ahead of joining British Army operations in Afghanistan.
Lance Corporal Matthew Tipton is one of two Shropshire men in a 24-strong group from the Royal Logistic Corps' 159 Regiment which is due to fly out for a six-month tour of duty in the coming weeks.
Lance Corporal Tipton and Private Lewis Mallone will be deployed with the TA regiment as part of Operation Herrick.
The soldiers gathered at their headquarters in Coventry over the weekend to begin final preparations. The soldiers will eventually team up with another regiment in the south of England before going to Camp Bastion in Helmand Province.
Lewis, from Telford, is aged 19 and has just completed a course in aeronautical engineering at Telford College of Art and Technology.
Matthew is from Market Drayton and works for a building firm when he's not with the TA and this will be his first posting to Afghanistan.
It has come at an eventful time for the 26-year-old as he is due to marry his fiancee Laura, also 26, next June. He said: "She was a bit upset at first when she knew I would be going but I think she has come round to the idea now."
He said: "I'm looking forward to going out there.
"I know that all the training has prepared me and I'm sure that will kick in and then I will do what I can.
"The experience will be invaluable."
