Hell Land (Helmand Province Exhibition)

The National Army Museum here in London recently launched a new exhibition about 3 Para’s deployment as part of 16 Air Assault to Helmand Province, or as they fondly called it “Hell Land”. The exhibit has actually been nominated for The Art Fund Prize.

If you can’t make it down to London to see this excellent exhibition then they do have an online version, which is also great and has some brilliant photos. I’m currently looking into doing a book on the Anglo-Afghan Wars of the 19th century and it does feel a bit surreal reading about the fighting around the Khbher Pass, Kandahar and Kabul – names that are all instantly recognisable because of current news reports. It will be interesting to draw parallels between today’s war and back then.

But on a lighter note it would be fun to do a book on such an archetypal Flashman period and I’ll have to dust off an old copy of that classic war film The Man who would be king. Hope that doesn’t make it onto Mike’s worst war film list!

Comments

[Gene]

That is an impressive display. I hope it wins the Art Fund Prize. 3 Para's deployment to Helmand in 2006 would make an interesting Warrior title...

[Richard at Osprey]

There is no way that The Man who would be King could be considered for the worst war film list. It is a classic.

[Paul Robinson]

I have been to see the exhibition and it is terrific. A few bits of kit etc but the real stars of the show are the video and audio clips plus the photos of the guys on deployment. One clip shows the air support provided by an A10 warthog onto a typical Afghan compund. The footage is shot on either a camera phone or a hand held video camera. As the fire came down I said an expletive sotto voce and 2 seconds later the chap who is filming makes the same comment on the soundtrack. I have to say his was more heart felt as he was only 30 metres from the point of aim!!!!

Also the whole thing is a great excuse to go to the National Army Museum - it is basically cool!