NAM.2008-09-28-1

Compact disc of oral history interview with Cpl Alan Boyle, 1st Bn Royal Irish Regiment, 1990-2006. Interview conducted by Mairead O’Hara, 23 May 2007 for National Army Museum Helmand Exhibition. Interview covers his reasons for joining up and his military service up until 2001 in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Afghanistan, France and America. Interview then focusses on his time as Signal Operator in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He describes his expectations and the reality of Afghanistan; his first experience of Helmand; life in Camp Bastion; life on duty; the frequency of Afghan attacks; and relations with locals. Boyle explains the role of 16 Air Assault Brigade and his role within it. He describes in detail the death of his two friends, Ranger Anare Draiva and ‘Moonbeam’ (Corporal Paul Muirhead) and discusses their lack of equipment. Also gives more details of his service in Sierra Leone 2000, giving his impressions of the country and describing an incident when his patrol had to persuade the local police to take in an injured female after rescuing her from the side of the road. Associated with Operation BARRAS, Sierra Leone, 2000 and Operation HERRICK Afghanistan, (2001), 2002-2014.

BARRAS, Operation, 2000 (Sierra Leone 2000-2001), HERRICK, Operation, 2002-14 (Afghanistan 2001-2021)