Wolverhampton soldier depicts life on the front line in Afghanistan

Royal Artillery Captain Alex Biddulph has published a book of sketches he drew while on a six month operational tour in the strife-torn country last year and is donating the proceeds to military charities.

The 33-year-old soldier – serving with 26th Regiment, Royal Artillery – was among the handful of troops to leave Helmand Province on the final day of combat operations for British troops. It was his second tour of duty in the country.

Wolves fan Cpt Biddulph, who lived in Cannock and Hoar Cross near Rugeley while growing up and is currently based in Gütersloh, Germany, said: "The book came about after I sketched as a means of passing time between patrols. By the end of the tour I had amassed a book full. Following encouragement from others I decided to publish and saw this as an opportunity to also help raise money for charity."

He was a Fire Support Team Commander, controlling artillery, mortars and precision strikes and explained: "I have always enjoyed art, but have so little time to pursue it these days. However being on tour gave me a chance to sketch again and fill in some of the time between patrols.

"When deployed there is little else to do other than keeping fit. Other ambitions of learning a musical instrument or foreign language fell woefully short.

"I drew normally when we were out on week-long patrols. If I wasn't reading it was a good way of passing the time while stuck in an old Afghan compound. Plenty of times I would have to come back and finishing the drawing because we were effectively on duty 24/7 for six months and you never knew what was going to happen.

"On my previous tour I had taken lots of photographs, but I think this gives a totally different perspective. I enjoyed looking at the drawings that came out of the First World War. I think it is a bit of a lost art. There is humour in my work. I think we all have to have a fairly dark sense of humour in the military and it helps you to get by, especially in Afghanistan.

The former pupil of Thomas Alleynes High School in Uttoxeter added: "I sketched for my own pleasure though a lot of the people I worked with wanted me to publish the images. I had to ensure there was no contentious or sensitive material with the MoD, however other than that the only problem I have faced is having the time to draw. I usually use Fineliners or biro in my sketch book and so it is all pretty easy to carry around with me."

Cpt Biddulph, who joined the army in 2007 commissioning into the Royal Artillery, and is now living with long time girlfriend Amy in Germany, left Helmand on October 27. He said: "I was not on the last aircraft but I left on B-Day which was the final day of troops in Camp Bastion and Helmand. I was glad to be coming home in one piece to see my family but I enjoyed working with some great guys in Afghanistan.

"Now I hope the book is enjoyed by both military personnel and civilians. Proceeds from the book go to two fantastic charities and I would like to raise as much money for them as I can."

He is splitting proceeds from the book, entitled 'Drawing The Front Line,' between Blesma and ABF: The Soldier's Charity.

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for service men and women who have lost limbs, or an eye or lost the use of a limb or eye as a result of wounds sustained while served during the Second World War and subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping operations, including the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. It also caters for their widows and dependants.

It was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932. Today it has over 4000 members.

To buy the book in hardcover, softcover or in e-book format, go to: http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/5828961-drawing-the-front-line