A couple more stories from soldiers serving in the Gulf from the Scunthorpe area which appeared in the same edition.

Mum and dad hear soldier will soon be returning to UK

A SOLDIER who played a vital communications role in the liberation of Southern Iraq has managed to ring home saying he is safe and sound.

As reported previously in the Telegraph Cpl Andy Adam’s parents were crossing their fingers hoping he came out of the conflict unscathed.

At one point Cpl Adam – who has been serving with the 16th Royal Corps Signals Regiment – came under mortar fire.

He rang home twice over the Easter weekend – one call on Good Friday night and the other on Saturday morning.

Mum, June Adam, said: “He’s telephoned a couple of times and he’ll soon be home. When he rang he was packing up from Basra. He was leaving to go to Kuwait and he’s waiting to come home.

“He thought he would be staying for peacekeeping duties. When he rang he couldn’t say much. He’ll be home in about a month’s time.

“He said ‘I’m fine, I’m well protected by the 7th armoured division’. He said it was very hot but could not say a lot because of army intelligence and security.”

Mrs Adam said they had some flags which they would be putting up to welcome her son home. She added: “He doesn’t like a lot of fuss, he’ll be embarrassed by all this.

“I think he’ll be having a celebration night out with the lads, then he’ll come home to Scunthorpe. He doesn’t like a lot of fuss. I’m very proud of him – I think it’s superb what they have done out there.”

Cpl Adam’s father, Bob, is also from a military background, having served for 25 years in the navy.

He said: “Once the fighting’s over they were looking forward to getting home. He could tell us very little. He said he’d been to Basra Palace and he’d taken some photos. I am extremely proud or him.”

Cpl Adam was comparatively safe in the war zone, being surrounded by the 7th armoured division, but he did come under fire at one point.

Mr Adam said: “They just had some mortar fire around them and that was it.”

He added his son had only hinted at the conditions in Iraq. He said: “For the first couple of days until they get the mess set up they had to live off rations.

“He did say the equipment was first class and everything worked as it should do. He was very pleased how things were working.

“Those lads were enjoying it. They train and train and it’s nice to put it into practice. When you are doing it for real it gets the adrenaline rushing.”

Mr Adam said his son had always been interested in joining the army. He said: “He was in the junior leaders regiment at 16. He’s always enjoyed it.

“I didn’t mind him going into the services, but I said he must have a trade. He’s a professional, he doesn’t disclose a lot.”

He added: “I’Il take him out for a pint. He’s normally quiet but after a couple of pints I get more information out of him.”

Sapper played vital role

A NORTH Lincolnshire sapper has helped play a vital role in keeping operations going during the recent conflict in Iraq.

From the moment sapper Alistair Smith (21), formerly a Frederick Gough School pupil from Scunthorpe, landed in Kuwait in early January with 48 Field Squadron he was kept busy.

He is Royal Engineers electrician and they were eventually involved in restoring facilities at Basra international airport after It was successfully taken by the allied forces.

Their first task was to increase the operational capacity of Ali Al Salem airbase for the RAF. This meant 19 Tornados, rather than the usual six, were able to go on missions deep into Iraq.

During March the squadron moved up-country and rose to the challenge of supplying water to southern Iraq, a gift from the people of Kuwait.

A military spokeswoman said: “This was achieved via a 2.6km overland pipeline. The pipeline went some way to begin helping to create an environment from which the local population could start to rebuild their lives post-Saddam Hussein.

“While in Umm Qasr, the squadron also supported 42 Commando and 23 Pioneer Regiment by providing them with basic electrical power and lighting.”

Basra international airport was next, where the squadron began to reinstall the basic water, sewerage power and security facilities.

An army spokeswoman said: “By providing these facilities the Divisional Headquarters is now able to operate in a relatively comfortable environment and work to achieve a stable future for Iraq.

Sapper Smith’s squadron is due to return the UK at the end or the month. He is stationed at 39 Engineer Regiment in 48 Field Squadron in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire.

He is employed in the resident engineering squadron at a Royal Air Force base in the Middle East, as part of Operation Telic. He has served in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Germany.

Sapper Smith, who joined the army in 1999, is very keen on adventure training and has climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in Kenya.

From the Scunthorpe Telegraph on Tuesday, April 29, 2003.