Luke's Taliban 'adrenalin rush' - South Yorks Star

SHEFFIELD soldier Luke Nally is beginning a well-earned holiday from a tough but successful six month tour in Afghanistan where he had been helping to train the Afghan army.

Luke, aged 24, a rifleman with the 1st Battalion The Rifles, was working in the heart of the volatile Helmand province including areas like Musa Quala which was recently under control by Taliban insurgents.

Luke said: "We worked in small teams of around ten British troops and roughly 40 Afghan Nation Army soldiers.

"We patrolled with them on a daily basis, helping to develop their patrolling skills and general awareness of the environment we worked in. When we were not on patrol we took them through such things as weapon handling, shooting, map reading and life-saving drills.

"Throughout the tour my team had numerous contacts with the enemy, coming under fire from small arms and rocket propelled grenades. It was definitely an experience I won't forget, it gives you an adrenalin rush which helps you to do what you need in that situation."

Luke is back in Sheffield and looking forward to spending some time with his parents Andrew and Mary.