Date : Monday 21 January 2013 13:57

Some of the young men who survived the bloodiest day for British soldiers in Afghanistan, when five died and ten were wounded, are speaking for the first time about their battle to conquer painful memories.

Less than 30 soldiers from 2 Rifles [9 Platoon, C Company] went out on patrol in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province on 10 July 2009.

More than half were killed or wounded by improvised explosive devices (IEDS) in what remains the worst casualty toll for a British foot patrol during the war in Afghanistan.

Kevin Holt was barely in his 20s when he went on the patrol that would change him forever. The 24-year-old already has the stare of someone who has seen far too much.

For the former rifleman, nicknamed ‘Holty’, survived. But his best friend, 18-year-old James Backhouse, didn’t. In the aftermath, one soldier who rushed to the scene mistook Kevin’s tears of grief for hysterical laughter.

Despite being caught up in the explosion, he continued clearing routes with his metal detector – his bravery saw him mentioned in despatches. But he says: “I think all the people in the platoon deserve it more than me... everyone should have got one.”(Frontier Post)

Story Code: 56886