Our War: 10 Years in Afghanistan (2011)
Our War: 10 Years in Afghanistan is a poignant documentary series that commemorates the ten-year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. Through the eyes of young soldiers, it paints a vivid and unfiltered picture of the conflict—capturing both the camaraderie and the heart-wrenching moments that define war.
The series unfolds in three gripping episodes, each revealing the raw realities faced by British troops deployed to Afghanistan:
- Ambushed:
- The opening episode introduces us to a tight-knit group of friends from 3 Platoon, 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment. These young soldiers were sent to Helmand province in 2007, many experiencing war for the first time.
- The platoon’s sergeant filmed their entire tour using a helmet camera. It was during one of these moments that tragedy struck: 19-year-old Private Chris Gray lost his life in a Taliban ambush. The film explores the profound impact of his death on both his comrades in the platoon and his family back in the UK.
- The Invisible Enemy:
- In the second episode, we follow a young platoon from the Grenadier Guards as they grapple with the terrifying threat of landmines (Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs).
- Captain Alex Rawlins documented his men’s experiences, including the devastating loss of 23-year-old Guardsman Jamie Janes, who stepped on a landmine during a patrol. Janes’s death became a turning point in public awareness of the human cost of IEDs, and a misspelled letter escalated into a political storm for then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
- Caught in the Crossfire:
- The final part of the series begins in 2009 and follows the 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales Regiment as they grapple with new rules of engagement aimed at protecting civilians.
- We witness Private Mike McCabe being shot in the leg during a Taliban ambush. By 2010, the Scots Guards find themselves fighting a different kind of war—a battle for hearts and minds.
- Their mission includes training the Afghan National Police (ANP), who often fight recklessly. Guardsman Daniel Clarke captures the heart-wrenching image of a three-year-old girl seriously injured by an ANP-fired rocket-propelled grenade.
- Tragically, the Scots Guards’ tour ends with the massacre of six ANP members while they sleep.
Our War: 10 Years in Afghanistan is not just a documentary; it’s a testament to the sacrifices, complexities, and human toll of war. Through the soldiers’ own words and images, it invites viewers to confront the harsh realities faced by those who serve on the front lines.
