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Soldier on front line of UK’s petrol crisis weeks after saving lives in Kabul

A SOLDIER is on the front line of Britain’s petrol crisis — just weeks after helping in the Kabul airlift.

Private Sophie Lamond, 22, took part in Operation Pitting, the evacuation of Brits and eligible Afghans out of the country.

Private Sophie Lamond, 22, is on the front line of Britain’s petrol crisis — just weeks after helping in the Kabul airlift
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Private Sophie Lamond, 22, is on the front line of Britain’s petrol crisis — just weeks after helping in the Kabul airlift
Sophie is only recently back from Kabul after assisting in the evacuation of Brits and eligible Afghans out of the country
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Sophie is only recently back from Kabul after assisting in the evacuation of Brits and eligible Afghans out of the country

After just three weeks back in the UK, she has stepped up to work as a tanker driver to transport fuel to empty forecourts.

Sophie, of Llanbedrog, North Wales, had just two weeks training for her current role at a huge fuel depot in Thurrock, Essex.

She told The Sun: "It's a privilege to be helping people out here in the UK and to show how adaptable the Army is.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind few weeks but nothing I or my colleagues can’t handle.

“Whether it’s at home or abroad, the army’s job is to respond and adapt to whatever the challenge is we have in front of us.”

As part of 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Sophie deployed to Hamid Karzai International Airport and was part of the 1,000 strong British team that flew 15,000 people to safety.

It was the biggest military evacuation since the Second World War and marked the end of Britain's 20-year military campaign in Afghanistan.

Sophie takes on her new mission driving a tanker to help fuel supplies reach forecourts across the UK
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Sophie takes on her new mission driving a tanker to help fuel supplies reach forecourts across the UK
Army to deliver fuel from Monday as ministers scramble to end crisis
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