Published: Thursday, 26th November, 2009 12:26pm

Cowdenbeath soldier gets hero's welcome

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Cowdenbeath soldier Alan Blair has been welcomed home by family and friends after spending seven months on the front-line in Afghanistan.

Black Watch rifleman Alan (23) was on his second tour in Afghanistan, although in 2006 the situation was less hazardous and this time proved to be a more harrowing ordeal for the troops.

Stationed in Helmand Province this time rather than Kabul, every day was a fight for survival for Alan and his colleagues, with some of them tragically not making it back.

He told the Times, "This time it was mental, really crazy. You didn't know each day if it was going to be your turn next."

He spoke of some of the comrades who lost their lives, Rab McLaren, Sean Binnie, Gus Miller, Kevin Elliot and fellow West Fifer Tam Mason.

Alan Blair in Afghanistan

"Tam was attached to us regularly. When something like that happens you don't know at first who it is, then the news filters through and it's a real shock.

"You've got to put it out of your mind and get on with the job you're doing," he said.

"If you start thinking about things, that's when you can make mistakes. Later on, when you've finished for the day, that's when you think about what's happened.

"But you get on with things and the guys you're with, you all get each other through it. I've heard the stories about shortages of equipment but we always had everything we needed."

He has been enjoying his time back in Fife and a surprise party was thrown for him by his parents at Oakley's social club, raising £1687 for the 'Help for Heroes' charity through raffles and a £500 donation from the club.

"I thought the party was for my gran's 70th and even got her a card but found out later she's only 68. It was a great night and really good to see all my family and friends in one place," he said. "I'm glad the money was raised as it is going to a good cause helping the injured lads."

Local businesses donated prizes for the raffles and Help for Heroes merchandise was on sale.

Alan admits it is strange coming from front-line conflict back into the quiet life of Cowdenbeath.

"You don't know what's coming next out there and then you're back talking to your family and everything seems so quiet," he said.

Alan reports back for duty next week and will be taking part in a series of marches through Scottish town centres, including Dunfermline on 11th December.