Hainault dad heading to war zone to photograph soldiers during tour of Afghanistan
A dad-of-two is preparing to join British soldiers in one of the most volatile and dangerous countries in the world to document their lives on the battlefield.
Daniel Bouskila, 31, of Hind Close, Hainault, will join the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Afghanistan next year to capture through photos their high-risk assignment.
This month he will begin his training in Norfolk, together with the Fusiliers, following them as they prepare to fly out to a country scarred by a decade of war.
He and photographer friend Paul Smorthit have been given permission by the Ministry of Defence to shadow the men and women as they then head to Qatar and on to Kabul, Afghanistan, in March.
Daniel said: “I want to build a story of how people bond and build camaraderie.
You may also want to watch:
“I want to capture the stories and how different situations are dealt with.”
And for Daniel, the Fusiliers have a special place in his heart, describing them as a regiment he has a “lot of love” for.
Most Read
- 1 Safeguarding concerns at 'outstanding' Atam Academy in Chadwell Heath
- 2 Young Citizen: 'Our community needs us the most right now', says Mutual Aid volunteer
- 3 Have you seen this 17-year-old missing from Ilford?
- 4 Derelict pavilion in Goodmayes Park destroyed by fire
- 5 Growing public support for tougher pet theft sentences
- 6 Inquest into murdered nursing student fails to establish cause of death
- 7 Wanstead wine expert launches new shop
- 8 Restaurant faces losing licence after allegations of illegal club nights during pandemic
- 9 Restaurant stripped of its alcohol licence
- 10 Have you seen this 52-year-old man missing from Ilford?
His brother, Adam, served in the regiment, as did his brother-in-law, Andy Chappell and cousin, Steve Forest,
“It goes through my bloodline,” said Daniel.
“I want to show people what they do and show how they serve our country.”
He added: “The army is a great education for some people, especially guys. When you leave school, you’ve not got a real direction.
“It’s a great thing to do to join the army. You get a structure. You get everything you need there.”
Despite preparing to spend weeks in a country which has claimed the lives of more than 400 British soldiers since the conflict began in 2001, keen mountaineer Daniel, who founded the group Ascent Mountaineering, is not nervous.
He said: “We’ve got some of the best soldiers in the world protecting us, so I’m confident that I’ve got them on my side.”
