Soldier returns home in hope of inspiring others
A soldier has returned home to help those who want to follow in his footsteps into the army.
Rifleman James Dallas was born and grew up in Bilston, attending Moseley Park school in the town.
The 25-year-old father of two left school at 16 and tried his hand at a variety of jobs before deciding on a career in the military.
Rifleman Dallas joined the 3rd Battalion The Rifles(3Rifles) in 2011 and the following year went on a six month tour of duty on the front line in Afghanistan's trouble-torn Helmand Province.
He spent most of the deployment manning a check point in the Nad-e Ali district , one of the most violent areas in the conflict and where 52 British soldiers lost their lives fighting the insurgents.
Rifleman Dallas recalled: "There were between 15 and 20 of us based at the check point and we came under fire on a daily basis. We also found quite a few Improvised Explosive Devices while out on patrol.
"It was challenging, hot and sandy - a bit of an eye opener. You were grateful to still be alive when it finished and appreciated life all the more when you got back home."
Rifleman Dallas recently returned from an exercise in Kenya and is stationed with 3Rifles at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh with his family, wife Gabryel(corr) and children Maisie-Jayne, two and one year old Ruby-Grace. The oldest girl was born while he was serving in Afghanistan.
He is now spending a month at the Wolverhampton city centre Army Careers Office in Queen Street offering advice to those thinking of joining up and giving talks at local schools, giving pupils an insight into life in the forces.
He said: "I would encourage people to think seriously about a carer in the army. It changes you for the better and you go to places in the world you would never visit as a civilian."
