The Lost Platoon

BBC’s documentary “The Lost Platoon” takes us on a gripping journey to the front lines of the War in Afghanistan. In May of 2009, a Welsh Guards platoon found themselves deep in Taliban country, where they unexpectedly fell into a deadly ambush just yards from their isolated mud fort patrol base. Led by their regiment’s brightest young officer, Lt. Mark Evison, the platoon kept a candid war diary that revealed the dangerous shortages of manpower and equipment they were facing.

Even just two weeks into their tour of duty, the platoon was already dealing with a vital piece of equipment, a crucial radio cable, that had failed. As the Taliban tightened their grip around the platoon, planting IEDs on the roads and attacking their small fort, even the most crucial spare parts could not reach them in time.

The documentary illustrates how the lack of one small cable can have lethal consequences and how it led to a platoon of the Welsh Guards’ toughest soldiers nearly being massacred. It is a story of how the men’s raw determination, resourcefulness and teamwork helped them overcome the impossible odds they were facing.

This film provides a gritty and realistic look at the reality of modern warfare, the sacrifices and struggles soldiers face, and the importance of proper equipment and logistics in ensuring the success of a mission.