When the battlefield beckons

Tuesday January 26, 2010

A Fulham estate agent is set to swap prime London property for a far hotter and riskier location in March.

George Anderson, 31, who lives in Vera Road, will travel to the war-torn deserts of Afghanistan with the London Scottish Regiment of the Territorial Army.

The lance corporal, who works as section commander within the regiment, will be involved in training the Afghan army in Mazar-e Sharif, in the north of the country. "I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

"I've been training army recruits in England for the past year, but our ways of doing things will not necessarily fit their ways of doing things in Afghanistan.

"So we're spending time learning the Afghan culture, including what hand gestures cause offence, and the way they treat women and elders. What would be a joke to us might cause offence over there."

George has been a member of the TA since 2002 and completed his first six-month tour of duty in Basra in 2004.

"I really enjoyed my time in Iraq and I've stuck with the TA ever since," he said. "You have heightened senses when you're out there - you spend six months looking for roadside bombs or people who might want to take a pot-shot at you."

George also clearly relishes the stark difference between his regular job, as an estate agent for Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward in Kennington, and the physical and mental demands of the battle field.

"It's a sharp contrast to my civilian job, where you have people getting emotional over £5,000 here or there. When you compare that with what we are doing in Iraq or Afghanistan it's a refreshing contrast," he said.

"And my boss has been extremely understanding about the whole thing. I think he wishes he was coming with me!"

George said his family, who live near Perth in Scotland, had also been unwavering in their support for his army career and latest tour.

"If they're worried they don't show it," he said. "My father was also in the army and he was there for the initial invasion of Iraq, so my mum had been through it before and they both know the score.

"I know what's going on out there but that's not enough to put me off. There's a job to do out there, and someone's got to do it."

To find out more about the London Regiment please call 020 7820 4040 or visit: www.londonregiment.mod.uk or: www.armyjobs.mod.uk for more information.