North East veterans honoured in book about Para Regiment’s war

The Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan 2001-2021 documents the experiences, achievements, and sacrifices of the regiment and all units that served with 16 Air Assault Brigade during the 20-year conflict.

Lieutenant General Andrew Harrison, former head of the Parachute Regiment, said: “The war in Afghanistan is seared into the individual and collective memory of a generation of Paratroopers.

“Time and time again our soldiers faced down a tenacious and determined enemy.

“It was a war fought in some of the most dangerous and difficult circumstances imaginable.

“Risk manifested itself under the feet of patrolling troops; the insidious threat from Improvised Explosive Devices was only ever one footstep away.”

The regiment first deployed to Kabul in late 2001 and played a key role in the evacuation of the Afghan capital in 2021.

During their early operations, the paratroopers helped deliver security and stability in Kabul before being redeployed to Helmand province, where they faced intense combat in some of the most hostile conditions of the conflict.

Their entry into Helmand marked a ‘baptism of fire,’ with soldiers engaged in direct combat with Taliban forces.

In addition to the paratroopers, airborne medics, gunners, and engineers played a crucial role in supporting the regiment throughout its deployments.

They served alongside the paras at strategic locations including Sangin, Musa Qaleh, Kajaki, Now Zad, and Lashkar Gah.

The regiment later led a major operation in Kabul and managed the airlift of thousands of British nationals during the 2021 evacuation.

Paratroopers from the North East, a major recruiting area for the regiment, are prominently featured in the book.

Over the course of 20 years of operational duty in Afghanistan, two soldiers serving with the regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for valour.

One of these was Corporal Bryan James Budd, who lived in Ripon, North Yorkshire.

The full-colour, A4-format book serves as a lasting tribute to all who served and includes a detailed tribute to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan 2001-2021 also pays tribute to the families and communities who supported the serving soldiers throughout the conflict.

It is designed as a ‘coffee table’ edition.

All proceeds from sales will be donated to charity.

Copies can be purchased from high street bookshops or through DRA Publishing’s social media channels.

The book’s ISBN is 978-0-9557813-4-6.