Former Welsh guard describes post-Helmand breakdown

A former Welsh guard has described having a “catastrophic breakdown” after witnessing unspeakable horrors in Afghanistan.

Steven Peters was seconded to Helmand Province in 2009, during what became known as the bloodiest summer for the British Army in over 50 years.

During one of his patrols, he witnessed a translator with whom he had a close relationship walk on an improvised explosive device (IED).

“What I saw that morning is not meant to be seen by a human being,” said 42-year-old Sgt. Peters of Anglesey.

He is one of 10 former soldiers who spoke to the BBC as part of Helmand: Mandatory servicea new document marking ten years since the withdrawal of British combat troops from Afghanistan.

The article contains details that some readers may find disturbing

In September 2009, platoon Sgt. Peters was less than a month into the tour when they were selected to lead an attack on Taliban-held territory.

“I have built a strong relationship with one of the interpreters, Ahmed Popal,” said Sgt. Peters for the BBC.

“He told me he couldn’t wait for the week to end because it was time to go home to see his little kids and family.”

The attack began in the dark.

“We were patrolling a densely populated Taliban area. Knowing that according to reports at the time, it was the most dangerous square kilometer area in the world, we called it the IED headquarters,” he said.

Suddenly, right in front of Sgt. Peters, translator Popal stepped on an IED.

Sergeant Peters said the only thing he remembered from the moments immediately afterwards was “dust, pitch black, the smell of smoke, the smell of burning flesh and screaming.”

“I sat down with my feet in this huge crater,” he said.

“I saw a dark object at the bottom of the crater, so I took out my flashlight and started looking.

“What I saw that morning – man is not meant to be seen. It was Popal.

“I realized that his body had been cut in half – there was nothing left from the navel down. So I think, how can I…how can I save this person?”

Sgt Peters performed mouth-to-mouth on interpreter Popal, but he died shortly afterwards.

“There is nothing left of this man, Ahmed (Popal),” said Sgt. Peters.

“And all he wanted to do was go home the next day and see his family.

“Because of the bond I had with this translator, what we went through, and the conversations we had, it really hit me. And it had a big impact on me.

“I walked straight into my little apartment complex where I lived, fell to my knees and just started crying and crying. I was there for a good 45 minutes – I wanted to punch, I wanted to scream.”

In the summer of 2009, ten men were killed while serving with a Welsh Guards battle group.

Sergeant Peters said his platoon was in a “very bad place” by the end of the tour.

“In the years following that tour, everything came to a head,” he said.

“I had a catastrophic breakdown. The therapy lasted nine months, I’m glad it happened – because if it had happened, the breakdown would have haunted me to this day.

There were over 20 years of service in Afghanistan 457 deaths of British Armed Forces personnel.

The number of deaths and casualties peaked in 2009 and 2010.

In August 2021, seven years after the withdrawal of British troops and 20 years since the war began, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, including Helmand Province.

“I remember the day Kabul fell,” said Sgt. Peters, who left the British Army last year.

“What was all this for? All these lives that were lost. Everything has been taken away.”

Sergeant Peters said he was nonetheless proud of his service in Afghanistan.

“We went there as part of a mission, a political mission, and we did our part in 2009.

“And I’m proud of what I did during my time in Afghanistan.”

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, information and support is available through BBC Action Line.

Helmand: Mandatory service will be broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Two Wales on Wednesday, October 30 at 9pm ET.