'Don't forget our boys'
A WEST Norfolk soldier who gave first aid to a friend before he died has told how he was lucky to escape with his own life after a firefight with the Taliban.
Dust from the impact of bullets hitting walls showered his face during an ambush and Royal Anglian Daniel Gent (22) said: "I don't know how I survived that one."
Daniel said he was thankful to be alive and proud to have served during the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment's gruelling six-month tour of duty in Helmand Province in Afghanistan.
Nine Royal Anglians lost their lives and more than 100 were injured during the NATO-led mission, which included defending key locations from attack and helping to stabilise the country.
Daniel, of Wereham, a former pupil of North Wootton Primary School and Lynn's Springwood High School, said: "We just want people to know the Anglians have come home. We took over from the Marines and have been fighting just as hard but nothing seems to have been said."
Recognition for those who did not return was also important. They included Alex Hawkins, of Dereham, who was a friend of Daniel's before he joined the Army. Daniel was one of the first to give medical help when Alex was injured in an explosion in July and he said it was a difficult time.
"He died fighting for his country. Good lads have died fighting and some people don't even know there is fighting going on," he said.
After some of his experiences, trained sharp-shooter Daniel said: "I don't know how I came home alive." He recalled an ambush where his patrol came under an "immense" rate of fire from the enemy.
"Once a mortar landed about five metres behind me and I didn't get a scratch," he said.
Daniel said he felt a huge sense of pride for doing his job.
"We have all had times when we have been scared but we had to keep fighting," he said.
He arrived home early on Sunday morning to an emotional welcome from his family.
His father, Adrian (47), picked up Daniel from the Royal Anglians' HQ in Pirbright, Surrey, and said: "The faces of the lads getting off the bus were lit up because they were back."
Daniel's mother, Sadie (47), said she screamed with joy to see him running into the house.
She thanked Daniel's girlfriend, Laura Bowles, of South Wootton, for her support. She also thanked everyone in the local community who had offered the family encouragement and colleagues at Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital for their understanding.
Daniel is also close to his 14-year-old sister, Tamsin, who said she was helped by friends asking how he was getting on.
Daniel does not plan to leave the Army yet. Going away to war was hard but he had also had many opportunities and had seen the world. "You have to take the good with the bad," he said.
There's also the unexpected. One day in camp in Afghanistan, Daniel met actor Ross Kemp, the former EastEnders hardman who was making a film about the Royal Anglians, queuing for tea.
"He was very interested in what we had to say and he did go out with us," said Daniel.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
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