Operation HERRICK photography by Andy Barnham

Operation HERRICK

Operation HERRICK was the codename under which all British operations in the War in Afghanistan were conducted from 2002 to the end of combat operations in 2014. It consisted of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and support to the American-led Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), within the country. These are photographs Andy took during his two deployments with the British Army on Operation HERRICK to Afghanistan in the summers of 2006 and 2008 as a military interpreter and in the capacity of an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) respectively.

Op HERRICK IV

In the summer of 2006 Andy deployed as an individual augmentee to NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), a high-readiness deployable force headquarters led by then British Army Lieutenant General David Richards. Richards took command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which was headquartered in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan and orchestrated the strategic expansion of ISAF control into the west and south of the country. Andy spent his tour working as a military interpreter both in Kabul with ARRC and also in Herat with Italian forces. The highlights of the tour included being Richards' interpreter when the Lieutenant General conducted a walk in a market meeting local Afghans. During his deployment Andy also visited Bibi Maru Hill, a prominent low-lying hill and public landmark located in the centre of Kabul and the infamous Soviet Swimming Pool on the hill. Built by Soviet engineers during the 1980s occupation the Olympic sized pool the pool has rarely ever been filled because pumping water up the hill has proved difficult. During the Taliban's rule in the late 1990s, the empty pool and its 10-meter high-diving platform were repurposed for public executions and "justice".

Close StoryRead More

A helicopter in the air and shadow on there perched ground below with a dust storm in the background

Soldier shielding himself from dust kicked up from a helicopter taking off, with Humvee in the background

Black and white image of adult fanning an elderly man lying in hospital bed with a drip attached

Landscape of small poor rural village surrounded by scorched earth in the summer

Silhouette of four men wearing helmets standing in doorway waiting to exit a building

Aircrew sitting and looking out the back of the tail of a CH47 Chinook as it flies over the desert

Black and white image of two rows of boys in white judo outfits stand opposite each other in a school playground

Black and white image of rear door gunner looking out the back of the tail or a helicopter as it flies over fields

Helicopter door gunner looks at the landing pad with airman n background waiting to give approval for take off

Door gunner looking out the side of a helicopter at rocky escarpment below

Landscape of small poor rural village surrounded by mixed green and scorched earth in the summer

Black and white image of three woman in burqas walking down a busy street with bus in the background

Black and white image of young girls in burqas leaving a city school

Landscape image of city surrounded by fields and flanked by mountains

Two young girls lying on a mat practising judo

Landscape of young boy sitting on low stone bridge with green fields and mountains in the background

Fall of Kabul Black and white landscape image of airstrip at dawn

Black and white image of medics securing a stretcher with patient to the floor of a military cargo plane while nearby a person in a seat has his head in his hands

Black and white image of soldiers standing around a Humvee on a dirt track running along the middle of a valley with hills above and behind

Black and white image of soldier standing next to a Humvee with top cover on a dirt track running along the middle of a valley with hills and behind

Girl walking past an open gate watching two boys play inside

Op HERRICK VIII

In the summer of 2008 Andy returned to Afghanistan in the role of Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT). Initially deployed to Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, Andy worked as a one man team mentoring a platoon of Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers. Organising joint vehicle and foots patrols between the ANA and British Army, Andy carried his camera and documented his experiences. The second half of his tour saw Andy move to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Price, under command of the Norweigans where he commanded the OMLT Operations Room. Later when the 2nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2 PWRR)—known as the "Tigers"— deployed to Afghanistan as the Theatre Reserve Battalion (TRB), Andy joined them, commanding the FDC (Fire Direction Centre).

Close StoryRead More

Importance of weapon safety and parallels with photography

Low angle of British Army soldier with sky behind him with hand on the butt of a GPMG

British Army vehicle patrol top cover at sunset in the desert

Grand archway in the middle of a desert with man sitting in the shade next to his bicycle

Five construction workers sit on their haunches during a break on a building site

Side angle of front end of CH-47 Chinook with rotor blades rotating and minigun protruding out of the side

Afghan National Army soldiers walking past a shop on a dusty street

Tribal elders sit in mud hut surrounded by kids as a woman in a burqa walks past

British Army vehicle patrol stops in the middle of the desert in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

British Army vehicle patrol crossing a stream during a rural patrol

British Army vehicle during a vehicle patrol stops on an incline outside a village

Driver and commander of a British Army vehicle during a break in the desert in Helmand province

Military medic with surgical gloves and forearm tattoo showing stands in front of injured topless male patient with head bandaged blowing his nose

Farmer standing in the middle of a poppy field with mud structures behind him

British Army vehicle patrol driving down village road with stalls on both sides

Black and white image of four children sitting by the edge of a field in Helmand, Afghanistan

Four young girls wearing different colour outfits, three barefoot, standing on a dirt street corner

Young girl in green burqa carrying a sack over her shoulder walking down a busy city road

Young boy holding promotional leaflet look gin at soldier talk to a street stall owner in front of him with three young girls in the background

Black and white image of Afghan National Army soldier with a rifle and underslung grenade launcher standing next to young boy while in the background a young girl in a compound looks on

Afghan National Army sergeant standing at the bottom of the hill with a compound above and behind him

D30 artillery being fired by Afghan National Army soldiers

Boy standing in front of a dust covered tent full of women and children