Corporal Barry Crane of the Territorial Army 6 Rifles, son of Ronald and Sylvia Crane of Glebe Meadow, Holsworthy, recently returned home having spent six months in Afghanistan. This was his second tour of duty there as part of the protection force of Camp Bastion in Helmand Province. Coming from a military background — his father was in REME and his two brothers-in-law are in the army — 50 year old Corporal Crane joined up at the age of 17 and after three and a half years with the Devon and Dorset Regiment, later spent 19 years in the TA, serving in Germany, Northern Ireland, Belgium, Cyprus, Ukraine and Georgia. After a period of leave he will return to a civilian job but still keep in touch with the military by weekly attendance at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter. Barry said he had enjoyed his military career, especially the comradeship of fellow soldiers, and he was able to keep in touch with his parents and fiancée Monica by phone and email. They said it had been a long, hard six months and they were delighted to have him home again.