Cwmbran soldier heads off to the Mediterranean (From Free Press Series)

Cwmbran soldier heads off to the Mediterranean

1:30pm Thursday 29th June 2006 in Pontypool news

A SOLDIER from Cwmbran has just started a new tour of duty under the Mediterranean sun as part of a new regiment the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh, that have been posted to Cyprus for the next two years.

Fusilier David Allison, aged 27 joined the army in 1997 and is looking forward to his time on the island.

The former St Alban's RC Comprehensive School pupil said: "There are excellent opportunities from here and I really want to get into the water sports and they are all free.

"We are working hard and have already started our acclimatisation and work-up training. We do the security for the bases, which are quite big areas. But for our spare time it's like being on holiday, it's certainly different weather from home!"

Formed on St David's Day this year, the regiment will now spend six months getting acclimatised, providing security for the Sovereign Base areas and training before taking on the operational role of guarding the Falkland Islands and becoming the hot-weather reserve for Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 1st Battalion has a history stretching back 300 years and is the oldest infantry battalion in the Principality.