A FOURTH generation Welsh soldier has spoken of his tough stint serving on the front line of Afghanistan's Helmand province as he is due to return home next month.

Sergeant Adam Whitbread, 36, from Abergavenny is serving with the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh as they play a key role in the headquarters of the battalion's B (Rorke's Drift) Company, which is responsible for maintaining security in Helmand's Lashkar Gah district.

Sergeant Whitbread, currently on his eighth operational tour since joining the Army in 1995, has to maintain communications with all the company's groups of soldiers at all times, using radio and satellite systems, either from the Company Operations Room or on the move in a Warrior armoured fighting vehicle.

He explained, "It's my responsibility to know where every group of soldiers is at any one time and ensure that we are in communication with them. I also help co-ordinate the various different groups when we are mounting a deliberate operation.

"Another part of my job within the company headquarters is to organise and administer the Afghan interpreters who work with us and help us to do our jobs."

Sergeant Whitbread followed in his father's footsteps by joining the Army and his now the fourth generation Welsh soldier, something he is very proud of.

He is looking forward to seeing his wife Carole and taking delivery of a new Triumph Daytona 675R motorbike.

Sergeant Whitbread added, "The tour has gone well but I'm really looking forward to getting back and seeing my wife. I also can't wait to get out on the road on my new motorbike and doing an accelerated freefall course which I have planned for the summer."