The Accidental Soldier

Journalist Stephen Paul Stewart was given a taste of the war in Afghanistan when he was embedded alongside British troops as they battled the Taliban. But his journalistic mission to the front line would change his life forever. He gave up his career reporting for one of the UK’s biggest newspapers to join the British Army before deploying to Afghanistan as a combat infantryman. We follow Stewart’s personal odyssey from civilian to soldier, gaining a truly unique perspective on one of the world’s bloodiest conflicts.

Stewart’s gruelling tour sees him serve six-and-a-half months at the remotest British base in Afghanistan during one of the key moments of the whole campaign. We follow his journey from reporter to soldier, exploring the reality of life and loss on the front line as well as the massive impact the war has wreaked on our soldiers and their families. Stewart, the first journalist in recent history to become a soldier, risked life and limb to give the reader an unprecedented look at the true nature of the global war on terror.

Available to purchase here.