Helmand
How hot was it!! How heavy were the coats!... Our troops in difficult conditions with impossible goals. . This actually makes you realise that war is real and happening right now… Truth hurts!... I am moved touched and I want to cry…. I honestly believe being a soldier – or a genuine ‘freedom fighter’ must be the toughest job on earth…. Every city should have an exhibition like this… better than television… I found out loads of things I didn’t know…. We don’t learn much do we?... To start a war always means that you have lost!... Does looking at war get us any closer to PEACE?..... How will that “victory”, if it comes, be defined?.. I still say it aint our war…. Needs must I hope it’s all worth it in the end… And how many Afghan civilians have been killed?... By visiting this museum it is more and more clear the fact that war is always useless, because it isn’t able to solve problems, but it creates other ones…. I knew something of the operations in Afghanistan but I had no feel for it until I had seen this exhibition. All members of Parliament should be invited (and if necessary made) to see it…. We are proud of our military. The same cannot be said of our politicians... To all souljaz wishin yooh da best of luck!...Man I look up to you we are with you all the way… You guys go through so much. How do you do it?... From a bog standard ‘civvy’ train driver - more people back here do think of you on a daily basis than you know… He is not just my husband or a Dad to our kids, he is very brave and a hero… For those who paid the ultimate price, stand easy…. You fight, some die, the result is that people are free to write comments like these.

Nearly 1,000 visitor comments have been collected by the museum in response to the exhibition Helmand: The Soldiers’ Story, which opened in August 2007

"The exhibition has helped to provoke thought about the conflict, and has generated a quite intense response," said Jo Woolley, exhibition team leader. "We heard from children, parents, pensioners, veterans, soldiers, their families and friends, international visitors. The comments wall took on a life of its own as a social commentary on not only the exhibition, but the conflict, the government, the latest media stories, and even on other comments made by others. It makes fascinating reading."

Click here for a snapshot of the diverse response of the general public to Britain’s ongoing involvement in the Afghanistan conflict.

The Helmand exhibition will be closing on 3 August 2009

Next Page