Soldiers return to Royal duties after tour in war zones

Jul 2 2009 West Lothian Courier

TWO Livingston soldiers will be back home this summer as part of a series of events with their regiment.

Trooper John ‘Christmas’ Carrol (23) and Trooper George Strachan (25) both former pupils of the James Young High School, are normally based with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in northernGermany.

But following tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past year they will be back in Scotland providing the Royal Guard for Her Majesty The Queen during Royal Week in July, at Edinburgh Castle and The Palace of Holyroodhouse, as well as having Homecoming Parades this month.

John, who joined the regiment in 2002, is normally a member of the crew of the army’s 62-tonne Challenger 2 Main Battle tank, in which he has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Poland and Canada, on both exercise and operations.

He spent six months of last year in Afghanistan, where he was working as a gunner and driver of a Scimitar light tank, which is used for reconnaissance.

“During the six months, we took part in various operations, mostly in support of the Para.

“We also did foot patrols along the Helmand river. It was really quite interesting at times. The worst part to get used to was the scorching heat of the Afghan summer,” said John,

Meanwhile, George, joined the regiment in 2001 and has been to Iraq, Bosnia and Croatia as a member of a tank crew.

He also spent six months in Iraq in one of the army’s newest armoured patrol vehicles, the Mastiff.

“I was part of the Commanding Officer’s Tactical Headquarters, providing protection and spotting possible enemy targets or explosive devices, “ said George.

“I also had to provide protection, or ‘top cover’ for the dismounted soldiers on foot.”

George is also looking forward to coming back to Scotland and meeting up with his friends and family.

He said: “It will be really great to see all my friends again, especially those from Livingston Rugby Club.”