Photos up in flames PDF
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It is heartbreaking to watch soldiers burning pictures of their own children and letters from loved ones, writes pool reporter Martin Dillon. Army rules force them to destroy any personal items which may give interrogators an advantage if they are captured, says Dillon, of the Manchester Evening News, who is with the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Iraq. When mail arrives there is a sense of elation among the men. But this is soon tinged with sadness as they realise the precious messages and photos from home must be incinerated. The only details carried by the troops are identification card, ID discs, a medical card and dollars. But all the men accept it as part of being a soldier in a war zone. This is the reality of warfare - men stripped of their private lives and day-to-day comfort. But the mail also brings parcels of food, sweets, chocolates and toiletries to cheer up the soldiers. 'Gutted' Sgt Ewan Andrews, 30, of Aldershot, Hampshire, received some photographs of his 10-month old son Sam which he had to destroy when moving gun positions. He said: "I am absolutely gutted but it is an Army rule and you just have to do it." Sgt Dean Foster, 34, from London, said: "It's great to receive mail and photographs but it's gut-wrenching when you have to destroy them, especially the photographs of the kids you haven't seen for ages." Lt Rich Piercy, 23, of Goole, East Yorkshire, said: "It might seem harsh that we have to destroy the mail, but it is for a very good reason because if a soldier is captured he could be put under psychological pressure if an interrogator has personal photographs or a home address." Bombardier Pete Bryce, 30, said: "It is such a massive morale booster and you do feel bad when you have to destroy letters and photographs. However, it just makes you more determined to get the job done quickly and come home in one piece." Carl Bond, 23, of Aldershot, said: "It's nice to receive mail but the worst thing about it is having to burn it after you have read it." Royal Horse Artillery soldier PHOTOS UP IN FLAMES
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