Craig Allen, a Paratrooper for 29 years, returned to 2 PARA as a reservist and unofficial photographer for the Battlegroup’s dramatic 2008 Tour in Helmand. As both a respected soldier and photographer he had unrivaled access to the fighting and moved from area to area following the action. Every evening he wrote up his experiences and those of the men he was with, whose trust he had as ‘a member of the club’. He had a ringside seat to a very costly summer tour, with the Taliban proving themselves worthy enemies to even the most elite British Army soldiers.

His story tells in superb action photographs and no-nonsense prose of the hardships, courage, fears and cost suffered by front line soldiers over prolonged periods. He captures the color of life and death in Afghanistan for both combatants and the luckless civilian population caught up in this vicious spiral of war. An unforgettable book which has true visual appeal.

• Front Cover
• The Afghan Trust
• Acknowledgments
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Preparation for Battle, October 2007 to April 2008
• Chapter 2 Zabul – Into the Mountains, 29 May to 10 June 2008
• Chapter 3 Kandahar, 14 to 22 June
• Chapter 4 Camp Bastion, 25 to 30 June
• Chapter 5 Inkerman – The Point of the Sword, 1 to 6 July
• Chapter 6 Sangin – The Ranger Op, 7 to 12 July
• Chapter 7 Gibraltar – Toe to Toe with the Enemy, 19 to 24 July
• Chapter 8 FOB Robertson – Fighting in Someone’s House, 30 July to 6 August
• Chapter 9 Musa Kaleh – The Eye of the Storm, 12 to 20 August
• Chapter 10 Kajaki – Hope for the Future, 22 to 30 August
• Postscript
• Appendix I – Clothing and Equipment
• Appendix II – A Brief History of 4 Para
• Glossary