A regional daily defence reporter took part in foot patrols and came into contact with insurgents while spending three months on the frontline of the war in Afghanistan.
Tristan Nichols, of The Herald, Plymouth, was ’embedded’ with British troops at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province after forming a unique partnership with the British Forces Broadcasting Service.
As well as producing news stories and features for The Herald, the partnership also saw him present, film and edit packages for the nightly British Forces News programme which is beamed to British military bases around the world.
Tristan was patrolling with members of 42 Commando Royal Marines, based in Bickleigh near Plymouth, a week before they lost men in an improvised explosive device blast while on a routine foot patrol.
Some of the marines had previously spoken to Tristan about their concerns over the IED threat before the incident occurred.
Tristan, who wrote about his own fear of stepping on an IED, also came into contact with insurgents shortly after returning from a routine foot patrol himself.
He said: “As anyone can imagine reporting on the frontline of a warzone is fraught with danger, but I think sometimes the only real way to portray what these incredible people do, is to live life in their shoes if only for a couple of months.
“Sadly we’re reminded of their extraordinary efforts when a serviceman or woman is killed, but they push themselves to the limits 24/7.
Tristan spent much of his time with units attached to 3 Commando Brigade, based at Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth, and reported on the activities of Royal Marines, Army commandos and Royal Navy sailors from The Herald’s patch.
“Plymouth has literally thousands of servicemen and women currently serving in Afghanistan. That means thousands more wives, husbands, partners and families are back at home waiting for news of their loved ones,” he said.
“I felt privileged to serve among them and report on just a tiny part of their roles. My aim was to paint a picture of their lives, in words and pictures, for their families back at home.
“Ultimately I think myself and other regional journalists who visit are often the bridge and link between the personnel and the families.”
It was Tristan’s third deployment to Afghanistan following stints in 2006 and 2008.
Last year, he won a national award from the Royal British Legion for his service to the British armed forces which was presented by Prince Harry.
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Fascinating that a ‘defence reporter’ unashamedly describes his role as a blend of propagandist and armed forces family liaison officer. His copy always reads as if an MoD press officer wrote it. I’d always assumed it was just lack of training in basic journalistic objectivity; I didn’t realise he was doing it on purpose. But then the Herald has long believed the military are a key constituency in Plymouth up to which it must assiduously suck, not realising (or choosing to ignore) that the vast majority of people in this city have no connection to or interest in the armed forces machine or the dockyard and that many of us see them for what they are: post-colonial anachronisms on which Plymouth is as pathetically dependent as Derby is on Bombardier or Consett was on British Steel, with the same likely consequences.
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Nothing like journalistic impartiality, eh?
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