Territorial Army medics fly to Gulf

TA officers said goodbye to their families at Maidstone

Fifty Territorial Army medics from Kent left their loved ones behind to head for the Gulf on Wednesday.

The medics, based in Ditton near Maidstone, are part of a squadron of 200 who will spend six to eight months looking after British troops still serving in the Middle East.

It is the first time B Medical Squadron has been mobilised as one unit since World War II.

Members of the group told the BBC they were apprehensive about going, despite the peaceful nature of their work, and concerned for the loved ones they would be leaving behind.

I'm a little bit apprehensive at the moment because you don't know what sort of situation you're going to go into

Sergeant Major David Keep

The Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Alan Willett, joined families at the TA base as they said goodbye.

He paid tribute to those going - and also to employers who had demonstrated understanding and support by realising they had to go.

Sergeant Major David Keep, who is usually a lorry driver, has been in the Territorial Army for 14 years.

He told the BBC: "I'm a little bit apprehensive at the moment because you don't know what sort of situation you're going to go into.

"I know they say the war's over now and they're there for humanitarian reasons but it's a completely different world to what we're used to, the people live completely differently to us.

"Being a squadron sergeant major as well, I've got the responsibility of 200 people under me, especially the youngsters - I have to watch out for them."

Also on Wednesday, hundreds of Kent-based soldiers from the First Battalion the Parachute Regiment - based in Dover - have returned from Iraq, flying into the county's Manston Airport.