Award-winning images of army life - from the heroic to the haunting

Published on Wednesday 1 December 2010 16:41

AN ARMY sergeant has won top prize in a photographic competition after taking pictures of his comrades to be passed to loved ones in the event of their death.

• This picture of C (Torbuk) Company firing a shell in Afghanistan helped CPL Gary Kendall win the prize for professional photographer

Sergeant Mike Fletcher was told to photograph a "eulogy" image of each soldier in his unit.

A few of the troops were not keen about having a picture taken, but once they saw Sgt Fletcher's picture of "Craigy", a sergeant in the Fusiliers, they all wanted one. Now the image of Craigy has won the prize for best individual picture in the Army Professional Photographer of the Year awards for 2010, announced at the Imperial War Museum in London yesterday.

• Sgt Mike Fletcher's atmospheric photograph Craigy

Cpl Gary Kendall won the Professional Photographer of the Year for his images of conflict in Afghanistan.

An army spokesman said: "The winning images showcase the creative talent within the army as soldiers' experiences of Afghanistan are seen through their eyes both at work and play."

• Major Charlie Crow, 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles