Peter Hawthorn was a quiet and reserved young man of twenty one, stocky build with a five foot ten frame. He had been raised by his Nanny since his parents were killed in a car crash when he was still a 4 month old baby.
His Nanny did the best she could to raise Peter in the back to back terraced houses of Holbeck Leeds in the mid 1960's.He was educated at Cross Flat's junior and middle school then progressed to Parkside high were at the age of 16 he left school with a reasonable education.
He joined the junior army two weeks later and aspired to what he wanted to do for the rest of his working life. He was promoted quickly within the junior ranks to the rank of Sergeant before at the age of Seventeen he moved over to the regular army and retained the rank of lance corporal.
He had spent the next three years training and doing ceremonial duties, not exactly what he wanted but he kept his head down and tried to do and make the best out of whatever situation was thrown at him.
Peter had three true friends in his Company of the 2ND Battalion Yorkshire Regiment; Mickey Dobson, Paul Wilcox and David Spinney. Like Peter they had all joined the junior army at 16 and had been together as a tight knit group ever since.
Mickey at six foot two, thin build with mouse brown hair and a gentle temperament and deep blue eyes, nick-named by the rest of the group as the gentle giant was a close friend of Peters and his confident. If Peter had any concerns he knew he could trust and confide in Mickey.
Paul Wilcox (Wilco) as he was known to everyone was five ten and strong as an ox but not the brightest in the intelligence stakes but good to have around when brain meets brawn. Peter knew he had his back protected by Wilco 24/7.
Last but least, Dave Spinney was Peter's best friend since the age of five starting out at Cross Flats Junior school. Peter and Dave where inseparable and if all else failed Peter knew the one true person he could rely on was Dave.
The guys always had fun whether working or on leave, but that was all about to change when they got their orders and a new assignment that could be of biblical proportions.Their lives would be changed forever.