Kevin J. Mervin was one of 2,351 British Territorial Army soldiers called up for Operation Telic in February 2003 to fight Saddam Hussein's regime alongside the British regulars and US troops. Like the other TA soldiers, this was the first time Mervin was to experience real fighting rather than the weekend training he would normally undertake. During his time in Iraq, Mervin kept a day-to-day diary of his movements and noted the daily events taking place elsewhere in the war, and this diary forms the backbone of his dramatic account. Weekend Warrior reflects the traumas, trials and tribulations that Mervin and colleagues endured while carrying out their work, including situations in which they literally had to fight for their lives. It is a personal story of the conflict in Iraq from a 'part-time' soldier's point of view. Mervin reveals how he and his companions dealt with the horrific sights, sounds and realities of war. Thrust unexpectedly into the middle of a dangerous conflict, his memoirs emphasise that the war was not the pushover many journalists portrayed it to be. As the battle continued, all Mervin wanted was his life back, including the opportunity to return to his civilian job. Unfortunately, both were to prove out of the question: his outlook on life in general was immensely affected by his experiences, while his manager sacked him for being absent due to his call out. Weekend Warrior paints a startlingly vivid picture of fear and confusion on the front line and the long-term mental scars inflicted upon the author as a result.

Author Biography

Kevin J. Mervin was a Territorial Army soldier for nine years and trained as a recovery mechanic in the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME) unit. He is married with three children and lives in England.