6:30am Monday 22nd March 2010
By Matt Watts
A teen Streatham soldier has spoken of his deployment to Helmand Provence.
Rifleman Thomas Saldanha,19, has spent five months protecting a hydroelectric dam providing power to the region.
The former Graveney pupil has directly faced insurgents as one of his platoon’s machine gunners in the face of enemy fire.
He said: "It is this dangerous and challenging part of the job that I have enjoyed the most."
He has also interacted with local villages.
He said: "At the start of the year, we distributed clothing for local children so they kept warm during the winter months.
"It can get really cold up here so it’s nice to know that we can do something good for the kids."
He is due to return in April.
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