The Fort: 9. Warrior

Summary

The History Podcast – "The Fort: 9. Warrior" (BBC Radio 4)

Date: September 17, 2025

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Episode Overview

This harrowing episode recounts a perilous assault and a remarkable rescue mission during the conflict in Afghanistan, as experienced by commanders, soldiers, and pilots. It centers on the grueling efforts to recover the body of a fallen Marine, referred to as "Forty" (Matthew), under intense enemy fire. Through firsthand narratives, it captures the chaos, courage, and emotional toll of battle, revealing the bonds and burdens shared by those who serve on the front lines.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Rescue Mission Under Fire

• Desperation at the Scene (00:36—01:57)

  • Marine Fraser Perry details the frantic situation as they attempt to recover Forty’s body, hindered by treacherous terrain and enemy fire.
  • The environment is so hostile that even the Apaches’ shell casings rain down on them, adding to the chaos.
    • "All of his kit was snagging ... I'm making no progress and we're in the middle of a very dangerous situation." (Marine Fraser Perry, 00:36)

• A Pilot Joins the Fight (01:57—03:28)

  • Ed, the Apache pilot, leaves the safety of his cockpit to assist ground troops, showing extraordinary initiative:
    • "So I jumped out the aircraft. So we pulled him up onto the bank... It coordinated together one after another." (Narrator/Host, 02:08)
  • The intensity of incoming fire, particularly from an RPG, shocks even these seasoned soldiers:
    • "When the RPG went across the top, I said, wow, they've got it wrong in the movies. It doesn't sound like that." (Narrator/Host, 02:53)

Tactical Details and Split-Second Decisions

• Firefights and Equipment Juggles (03:28—05:54)
  • Perry picks up a pistol, discovering it belongs to the pilot, underscoring the confusion amidst combat.
  • A unique technical solution is employed: Forty’s body is secured with a loop line carabiner to the helicopter’s fuselage for evacuation.
    • "We wrapped that under his armpits around his chest, threw itself, and then clipped him onto the bottom of the fuselage." (Marine Fraser Perry, 05:20)
  • The tension as the Apaches prepare to lift off while under threat is palpable.

Command Perspective & Aftermath

• Remote Command Anxiety (05:54—06:59)

  • Colonel David Amlodipine describes waiting anxiously for the Apaches to take off—each second feeling like an eternity.
    • "I can honestly tell you it was the longest sort of four or so minutes of my life." (Colonel David Amlodipine, 06:09)

• Company Reaction & Grief (07:32—09:14)

  • The episode captures the moment when the company realizes Forty did not survive. The pilot attempts to spare the unit further trauma by landing Forty’s body gently, but the practical needs of combat persist.
    • "He does sort of gracefully fly off to one side. But... he couldn't go too far away. It had to be close to the company." (Marine Fraser Perry, 08:28)
    • WO2 Shep Shepherd describes the heart-wrenching task of confirming Forty’s death with his friends and extracting his equipment for future battles.
      • "Does everyone agree that Forty is dead? Everyone instantly says, yeah." (Shep Shepherd, 09:22)
      • "It might sound slightly cold and callous ... We'll be in a fight that night or the day after. We need to get as much kit and equipment that we can use in that fight." (Shep Shepherd, 09:27)

The Flight Home: Running on Fumes

• Evacuation Logistical Challenges (10:58—11:56)
  • Amlodipine recounts the near-disastrous fuel situation—communications fail, and the helicopters return to base nearly out of fuel.
    • "They were literally on fumes flying all the way back to Bastion... they got very close to having an engine flame out." (Colonel David Amlodipine, 11:50)
    • "As we'd got into the fuel point, the engine died." (Narrator/Host, 12:17)

Reflections and Coping with Loss

• Personal Memories and Recognition (12:30—13:49)

  • Royal Marine Jake Olafson reflects on the unique but necessary means of retrieval, expressing the emotional reality for the men.
    • "Kind of shitty, but effective because we didn't get any more casualties." (Jake Olafson, 12:44)
  • Fraser Perry shares a humble moment receiving recognition from the Company Sergeant Major, highlighting respect earned in adversity.
    • "As a young Marine from the company's art Major, that's a really big thing." (Fraser Perry, 13:45)

• Processing Grief and Continuous Combat (13:49—14:50)

  • Shep Shepherd speaks candidly about the emotional burden: there’s little time to grieve, as survival and duty must come first.
    • "There's a time to grieve and unfortunately for us, that wasn't the time. ... When we get home, then that's the time. And that doesn't stop you being sad, but it enables you to keep soldiering on." (Shep Shepherd, 14:12)

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Memorable Quotes

• On the unique reality of combat:

  • "When the RPG went across the top, I said, wow, they've got it wrong in the movies. It doesn't sound like that."
    — Narrator/Ed Macy (02:53)

• On practicalities amidst grief:

  • "We're taking his night vision goggles, we're taking his personal roll radio... You’ve got a role to do, you’ve got a job to do ... The one person who would understand, he's Forty because he was a warrior."
    — Shep Shepherd (09:33)

• On coping mechanisms:

  • "There's a time to grieve and unfortunately for us, that wasn't the time... it enables you to keep soldiering on."
    — Shep Shepherd (14:12)

• Bittersweet recognition:

  • "As a young Marine from the company’s art Major, that’s a really big thing."
    — Marine Fraser Perry (13:45)

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Notable Moments & Timestamps

• 00:36–01:57 — Perry recounts the urgency and chaos at the recovery site.
• 02:08–03:28 — Apache pilot Ed Macy exits the aircraft to help on the ground.
• 03:28–05:54 — The complex and dangerous process of securing and recovering the body.
• 06:09–06:59 — Colonel Amlodipine’s anxious wait for the helicopters’ departure under fire.
• 08:28–09:14 — The pilot attempts to shield the company from further trauma as they receive confirmation of Forty’s death.
• 09:14–10:58 — Practical recovery of equipment; the company’s ritual and collective grief.
• 10:58–12:19 — Near disaster in returning to base with barely any fuel remaining.
• 12:30–13:45 — Personal reflections on the mission and a rare moment of praise.
• 13:49–14:50 — The Sergeant Major’s candid reflection on battle fatigue, resilience, and deferred mourning.

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Tone and Language

The episode maintains a candid, respectful, and at times starkly matter-of-fact tone—balancing technical detail with raw emotional honesty. It gives listeners an unvarnished window into the mindset of soldiers under fire, their grim humor, camaraderie, and how they process (or compartmentalize) loss.

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Summary

"The Fort: 9. Warrior" vividly portrays a battle-hardened unit’s determination to bring a fallen comrade home against daunting odds. Through first-person testimony, the episode captures not only the tactical and practical realities of modern conflict but also its deep emotional toll, fraternity, and the rituals by which soldiers honor their dead while pushing on with their mission.

Transcript

[Narrator/Host]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. This is the story of the One. As head of maintenance at a concert hall, he knows the show must always go on. That's why he works behind the scenes, ensuring every light is working, the H Vac is humming and his facility shines with Grainger's supplies and solutions for every challenge he faces. Plus 24. 7 customer support. His venue never misses a beat. Call quickgranger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

This is the story of the 1. As a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility, he knows keeping the line up and running is a top priority. That's why he chooses Grainger. Because when a drive belt gets damaged, Grainger makes it easy to find the exact specs for the replacement product he needs. And next day delivery helps ensure he'll have everything in place and running like clockwork. Call 1-800-800-GRANGER click granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. Sadly, he's dead and, and we have to get him back. Marine Fraser Perry, who was there helping me and I was very relieved to have him by my side. All of his kit was snagging and it was, it wasn't easy. There were two other Apaches in the air above us. The empty shells from their 30 millimeter cannon are sort of landing around our feet. I'm making no progress and we're in the middle of a very dangerous situation.

[Narrator/Host]

They looked exhausted. It's now desperation. So I jumped out the aircraft.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

Fortunately, Ed jumped out of his helicopter and came to our assistance and I think he, he came to it with a slightly clearer head.

[Narrator/Host]

So I jumped out the aircraft. So we pulled him up onto the bank, but to try and move him through the ground because it had been tilled and it was like talcum powder and every time we tried to pull, our feet were just sinking. So I said, I can't get him high enough off the ground, there's too much drag. So I put my hand, I got, said, let's get him underneath his flak jacket. And we said, pull one. So we just moved him and then took another step, then moved him. It was just step after step. It coordinated together one after another. The patch was getting closer and closer. I'd been on the ground for maybe 30 odd seconds at this point. That's the point when I heard crack go off and then an RPG go across the top of my head and, you know, haven't fired them before. I've never Been on the receiving end of one. The sound shocked me. I was used to hearing rifle fire. I could hear the cracks coming past me. I could see bits of soil popping up, bits of sand and dust popping up as the rounds were hitting around us. But when the RPG went across the top, I said, wow, they've got it wrong in the movies. It doesn't sound like that. And then I looked back and I could see Geordie running across the field towards me. And he wasn't far away with two Marines behind him. And we've got about another 15ft to go. And I'm thinking, this is not going well. The Taliban now know where we are.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

As I ran to take up a fire position, I found a pistol on the floor just at the. At the base of the Apache. And I thought to myself, oh, that must be one of the lads who dropped it from the initial attack. Hoofing like hoofing to the marines is cool. Great. So I picked up this pistol and put it in my pocket.

[Narrator/Host]

So I thought, right, I'll put some fire down quickly, try and get the heads down till the Marines arrive. So I turned, looked, my pistol had gone. I'm like, where the hell's my pistol? It was strapped in there. And I've got an Uncle Mike's Sidekick which sits on my right thigh, which means I can instantly get it. So all I need to do is a little thumb push and I can do it. But as I ran before I left, though, if we get out flanked, I'll just take the thumb clip off it so it's quicker. But because of that, the weapon was unsecured.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

And I remember seeing the pilot sort of looking on the ground and that's where I realized it's his pistol. So I sort of tapped him on the shoulder and gave it him. And I was a bit good because now I didn't have a pistol again. As we were getting to the Apache, the other two guys turned up as well. So Gary and the rsm, Colin Hearn. So now there's the five of us on the ground at this Apache. Colin Hearn, Dave and the pilot were now securing 40 onto the bottom of the Apache. And I ran back just to take up arcs and start looking into likely enemy positions in case we get ambushed, etc. And I think Gary did the same. We had this thing called the loop line carabiner, and we wrapped that under his armpits around his chest, threw itself, and then clipped him onto the bottom of the fuselage. Gary and Col Hearn make their way Back to the Apache. They've got furthest to go. So again I think in my mind we waited for them to get back to that and then Dave took up Parks, I took up Parks. They sort of got closer to their Apache. So then we closed into our Apache and then I ran back onto the left hand side, the 9 o' clock position of the Apache, climbed back onto the stub of the wing and just gave a thumbs up. We waited what felt like a lifetime, but it must again be second and then start to take off again.

[Colonel David Amlodipine]

My name is Colonel David Amlodipine. Back in 2007 I was Major David Amlow in charge of 656 Squadron, Army Air Corps. And meant that I was the officer commanding both Tom o' Malley and Ed Macy. I couldn't make out initially when they were ready to lift, but I can honestly tell you it was the longest sort of four or so minutes of my life. Certainly when we saw the first aircraft lift was Ed's aircraft and they were able to immediately exit over the Helmet river to the west. It was slightly, no more than say 15, 20 seconds, but a very long 15 seconds or so. Watching Tom get airborne, especially as he was the closest to Juggernaut Fort itself and the enemy positions, I was expecting that he might yet still take fire. And it was, you know, a relief to see him. The 30 millimeter to suppress the positions as he was flying out.

[Narrator/Host]

Tom o' Malley can't remember if it was then that we got told that Matt wasn't alive. But my, my squadron commander David came down. They'd been watching it on, on the Predator feed. I didn't know about that and shook us all by the hand and he said, look, he said he got a bit of bad news and I think that's when he told us that pronounced him dead.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

The Apaches flew back to where the company was. Knowing that this news was about to come to the company sort of stays with me. Just how the lads probably still have that image in their minds, the Apache coming towards them with, with 4D sort of slung beneath it. I'm Glyn Sadler. I was a lance corporal attached to Zulu Company. The sun's well up, the heat starting to come out. Dust everywhere from helicopters.

[Colonel David Amlodipine]

Guys stood on Vikings. I genuinely expected him just to like.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

Raise an arm or just to thumb up or something, say it was okay. But the closer they got, the more.

[Colonel David Amlodipine]

Apparent it was that something wasn't right. I think everybody's head just dropped. You know, we sort of knew what happened.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

The pilot doesn't want to show the company Fordy's body. So he does sort of gracefully fly off to one side. But the pragmatic situation is he couldn't go too far away. It had to be close to the company. He slowly lands and then sort of banks to the side and it does gently, like, lay Matthew down, as gently as a helicopter can do. I just remember as soon as we landed, one second, one second there not. And then the shep is the Zulu. Company Sergeant Major WO2 Shepherd. It's an unfortunate part of being a Company Sergeant Major. As you deal with the casualties and.

[Shep Shepherd]

The wounded, a number of the lads come running down, obviously, mega concerns and blokes who he'd been, you know, living in the hole with and fighting with for the last three months, like, and who he'd known for years. I held the company back and just told them all to stay where they were. And I just says, I need four of Fordy's mates. They all just come automatically. Just knelt down in a semicircle around Fordy's body and I just say, does everyone agree that 40 is dead? Everyone instantly says, yeah, agree. And then this might sound slightly cold and callous. We're taking his night vision goggles, we're taking his personal roll radio, took all of his ammunition magazines, his grenades, you know, we're going from there back to Garmstown. We'll be in a fight that night or the day after. We need to get as much kit and equipment that we can use in that fight. You've got a role to do, you've got a job to do and it can impact on other people if it's not done correctly. We had a little bit more time than I was expecting, but. And we all sat there, you know, we all sat there with our hands on his chest. And that night, you know, everyone around and just saying, Talking to him and saying goodbye and, you know, haven't got time at that stage now to dwell on it. And I know that sounds cold as well, but as I say, tonight we could be back in a fight. The one person who would understand, he's fawdy because he was a warrior.

[Colonel David Amlodipine]

Colonel David Amlo. I was the officer commanding. Tom o' Malley and Ed Macy. I didn't see them until they got back to Bastion and I was absolutely convinced that I'd be looking at aircraft with holes. And I was extremely concerned at that point as to whether or not they would even have enough fuel. What we'd done is we'd spun up a Chinook helicopter with some air portable fuel containers. The message had been passed to the crew that were in the overhead to say, give us a grid reference, we'll get these fuel containers out into the desert. In the confusion, in the stress of the moment, that message never got passed. So whilst I was sat there thinking, well, they haven't called for the fuel, they must have enough, the converse was true. And they were literally on fumes flying all the way back to Bastion. And I do remember one of them saying that they got very close to having an engine flame out.

[Narrator/Host]

Carl had done the maths and if anyone knew it, he did. He went, we're going to land with a couple of pounds of fuel left. We're going to be well below the minimum we're legally allowed to land with. Said, but I'm not landing this in the desert. We went over the perimeter fence at Bastion with Jordi flying in front of Carl. So they landed first and went along up the Runway. We landed. As we'd got into the fuel point, the engine died.

[Colonel David Amlodipine]

As soon as I knew that they were on their way back, I went down to meet them in Cambastian. Tried to reassure them that whilst he might not have survived, we brought him home.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

My name is Jake Olafson, I'm a Canadian. I served in the Royal Marines from 2005 through 2009. I've never shared these videos or audio before. Well, back in my hole in the desert, they went back in and they managed to recover the body. Unique way, they hooked onto it with a helicopter and flew it out. Kind of. Kind of shitty, but effective because we didn't get any more casualties. It's back in the hole in the desert, apparently. We're pulling out of here later today. Been awake for a long time. Time to get my head out. Chris Fraser Perry. I went up to Shep and said, sergeant Major, which vehicle dropped me to go back in? And he just looked at me and said, go back in the same fucking vehicle you came in. And I said, sir, I was on one of the Apaches. I was the young, quiet Marine in the company who's just like, oh, right. And then a few days later, he was like, good effort, Royal. Well done. Which as a young Marine from the company's art Major, that's a really big thing.

[Shep Shepherd]

I'm Shep Shepherd. It might have even been a realisation point that, you know, we've done some serious battles, you know, I think our longest one up to then, been 10 hours long. And whether it was maybe Blake's thinking, I don't know whether I'm going to make it through six months of this. I know myself personally, that's exactly how I felt when I come home and R and R have one good look around the garden because if it carries on this way, there ain't no way I'm coming back. There's a time to grieve and unfortunately for us, that wasn't the time. And the way I reconciled it with myself is that, you know, when we get home, then that's the time. And that doesn't stop you being sad, but it enables you to keep soldiering on, you know.

[Narrator/Host]

The Fort was produced by Kev Kaur. The editor was Sue Roberts. It's a BBC Audio north production for Radio 4. You can hear the next episode now on BBC Sounds.

[Shep Shepherd]

When you look at what's going on.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

Around the world, it's easy to think that we humans are incapable of living peacefully. But there are out there people who disagree. I keep going because someone has to hold the line between grief and revenge.

[Shep Shepherd]

I'm Matthew Side and in my sideways miniseries chasing Peace from BBC Radio 4.

[Marine Fraser Perry]

I'm meeting people who have radical ideas about how we can stop what feels like an inevitable slide into conflict. Listen first on BBC Sounds.

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[Narrator/Host]

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[Marine Fraser Perry]

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[Colonel David Amlodipine]

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[Marine Fraser Perry]

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