Tears of joy as Merseyside soldiers welcomed back from war zone

Oct 23 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

EMOTIONAL scenes greeted the return home of more than 60 Merseyside soldiers from a three-month tour of duty in war-torn Afghanistan.

Around 200 family members and friends were at the head-quarters of 208 Field Hospital in Childwall last night to welcome them back.

Union Jacks were waved as the coach pulled in to the Territorial Army barracks, followed by hugs, tears, and glasses of champagne for the returning soldiers.

The TA medics were deployed to the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Helmand province, treating casualties from UK and coalition forces and some Afghan nationals.

During their tour of duty, they dealt with the aftermath of sui-cide bombers, as well as injuries sustained in military operations.

Nearly all of those returning home last night were locally-based health workers who serve the military in their spare time as members of the TA.

It was the first time since the Second World War that 208 Field Hospital had been deployed as a unit, although many soldiers served on previous tours of duty attached to other units, for example in Iraq.

Among the many welcomed home last night was Captain Lisa Tierney, who celebrated her 50th birthday while in Afghanistan as a senior nursing officer.

She said: “It was a challenging environment and the conditions were quite basic. It was very hot, very dusty, and very busy.

“It has been a life-changing experience for everybody, and we have all come back different people.

“It makes you look at things in a different way and it makes the things that people complain about back home seem very silly.”

Capt Tierney, from Wallasey, who works for Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals in her civilian capacity, was welcomed home by her husband Mike, an ex-Marine, and friends from Wirral, who had made up a banner and were dressed in Union Jacks for the occasion.

Among the others welcoming back loved ones were Ron and Norma Smith, who travelled from Burscough in Lancashire to see their daughter, 39-year-old Captain Tracey Smith-Straney.

Mrs Smith said: “I’m so proud of her. She’s my pride and joy.”

Her daughter said: “It’s something I’ll never forget. The main thing is that we were saving lives. That more than anything was a great achievement.

“I’ve enjoyed the experience but it’s great to come home.”

Nurse Rose Monaghan, 40, from Aigburth, said: “The way the unit worked as a team was fabulous.

“It feels great to be back and to see trees, green grass and cars again.”

The field hospital within Camp Bastion contained two wards with a total of 25 beds, two operating theatres, accident and emergency, physiotherapy, X-ray, and CT scanning, similar to an NHS hospital.

The commanding officer of 208 Field Hospital, Colonel Andy Whitton, paid tribute to the work done by members of the unit during their tour of duty.

He said: “For half the unit it was their first deployment, and it’s been a very busy and demanding tour.

“They have seen a lot of casualties and they have done a professional and excellent job.”

alanweston