Erskine veterans share Iraq war experience 20 years on
On this day in 2003, former Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed British troops had joined the US military to remove Saddam Hussein from power.
A former soldier from Erskine is claiming he narrowly avoided being caught up in an explosion three times during his time serving in the Iraq war
Twenty years ago today the then Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed British soldiers had flown out to join the US military to topple Saddam Hussein from power.
Their mission was to disarm the country of weapons of mass destruction.
"I look back now and think it could have been different"
Mark Elder flew out in November 2003 after the initial conflict and returned home the following April.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: "I think someone once put an IED inside a water bottle which was probably not enough to do loads of damage, but it could have done something.
"I look back now and I think it could have been different, but when you are out there and doing a job you have to try to not overthink about what could happen.
"I was also much younger at the time, but if I went back now I would worry about getting injured and the impact that would have on my son."
Nick O'Neil also served in the military for decades and now works with Mark at the charity Erskine supporting other veterans.
"Little things would trigger a big reaction in me"
He recalls some of the devastating scenes he witnessed out there during two tours.
"I don't think I ever suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but my wife might say differently because there were times when I was really short with my family.
"When I came back home and my kids were having a tantrum in the shops about not getting a chocolate bar I would get angry because I had seen what children in Iraq were growing up around.
"Little things would trigger a big reaction in me and that would perhaps be as a result of seeing things out there people at home could never imagine."
Both men formed strong bonds with each other and their other comrades.
"We think about it every year"
Nick added: "Sometimes people ask you things like 'Have you ever killed anyone?' which is a really silly question for someone who has spent years in conflict zones.
"Tonight I am going to meet up with one of my other friends who was in the military and we will have a beer to reminisce about it.
"We think about it every year and there will be no difference this year just because it is the 20th anniversary.
"It is just time gone by for us."