A Mill Hill Territorial Army commando returned from Iraq yesterday (May 28) after serving for more than three months in Kuwait.

Olaf Dudley, of Sunnyfield, said: "This has been an experience of a lifetime. It was tough living in such conditions, and potentially coming under fire from Iraqi artillery and missiles whilst being prepared for chemical or biological attack at any moment."

The 35-year-old husband and father-of-three is a print production controller with Garden House Press Ltd in Middlesex.

"The past few months have been a totally different experience to my usual day job," he added.

Mr Dudley was one of 62 soldiers returning to their Territorial Army unit 131 Independent Commando Squadron, Royal Engineers, Kingsbury. They were welcomed back with a speech from the Officer Commanding, thanking the soldiers for their co-operation and support.

"My TA commando training prepared me well. I'm now just so looking forward to getting home to my family and friends," he said.

The TA Commandos were deployed to the Gulf on January 30 and had been serving in Kuwait prior to the war, and then in Iraq following the start of hostilities. In the Gulf, the engineers were responsible for breeching mines and wires on the beaches of the Al Faw Peninsula.

May 29, 2003 13:30