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Cpl Lee Tibbs on patrol in Afghanistan (c)

A HARLOW soldier has spoken of his five months fighting in the war-torn Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

For Corporal Lee Tibbs it is his tenth operational tour.

The 35-year-old first joined the army in 1990 and served most of his career as a Tankie' in the second Battalion The Royal Tank Regiment.

After leaving the regulars he remained on the reserve list and was called up this time to serve with Salonika Company from the 7th Battalion, The Rifles.

He has been on two tours in Northern Ireland, two tours of Bosnia, Kosovo, Cyprus, two tours of Iraq and one previous tour in Afghanistan. Although a qualified tank commander, most of his tours have been spent with the infantry.

Last June he left his civilian job as a self-employed transportation engineer and began training for operations in Helmand Province. At the start of October he left the UK for a six month tour of duty in southern Afghanistan.

When asked how he is getting on, Lee said: "It's cold, wet and muddy, but the boots fit and the mail's getting through so it's all good."

Recently he has been serving in the north of Helmand where over the last six weeks temperatures have dropped as low as minus 10C without adding on the wind chill factor.

Despite the harsh conditions the men continue to go out on patrol in their armoured Land Rovers to reassure the locals and look for signs of the Taliban.

Lee also has responsibility for maintaining his unit's vehicles. The terrain is challenging and it takes its toll on the equipment. Changing a clutch is a difficult enough task in a fully equipped garage. Lee however has to do tasks like this whilst exposed to the elements.

He said: "I enjoy the challenge and wouldn't change it for the world. It's not for everyone, but I love it."

Lee, who spent last Christmas away from his friends and family, is a big personality within Salonika Company and has been described as a constant source of morale by his colleagues.

A Tankie' through and through, he enjoys working with the infantry but is now looking forward to returning home to a hero's welcome next month.

2:23pm Tuesday 18th March 2008

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