Seven Months of Hell in Basra - Carl "Percy" Gardner (Elite Podcast #59)

Check Out Carl's Latest Book: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Iraq-... Carl "Percy" Gardner joins Lee Matthews on The Elite Podcast for a powerful, unflinching conversation about a 37-year Army career — from King's Regiment junior leader to Regimental Sergeant Major and commissioned officer with 2nd Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment — and the seven months in Basra that changed him forever. As a Company Sergeant Major in an armoured infantry company on Op Telic 9, Carl led men through near-constant combat: Warriors, IEDs, RPGs and firefights that ran for hours. He talks through the tour that became the subject of his book, written from the war diary he kept on the ground — and the leadership that saw him bring every one of his 120 soldiers home. But this is as much about the human cost as the combat. Carl goes back to growing up in Ormskirk, inspired by his grandad's war stories, joining as a King's cadet, Berlin as the Wall came down, and eight years in Northern Ireland — including his first experience of mass casualties at a border checkpoint. He shares extraordinary leadership moments from Iraq: coaxing a broken young soldier back into the fight, moving another to safety, and a Brigadier taking a fallen Kingsman's place on top cover. And he speaks, with real honesty, about losing his close friend Graham to an IED, the 2am phone call home, the tragedy his men called "Yellow 12", and the PTSD that so many carry long after they come home. It's a raw, emotional and deeply human account of combat leadership, brotherhood and sacrifice — and of why, twenty years on, these stories still need to be told. The Elite Podcast is a brand-new show where host Lee Matthews speaks to individuals who are at the top of their industry and profession. The guests will be from different backgrounds including combat sports, military, and business to coaching. Lee will be finding out along with you why they have become the best in their fields and enjoyed acclaimed success and what they all share – their determination to become ELITE in their field. Lee Matthews is a former paratrooper, kickboxing world champion and now entrepreneur. He is the owner of the UK's biggest chain of martial arts centres. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 01:33 From "Carl" to "Percy": the nickname 02:38 Commandant of Altcar & 37 years served 04:59 Ormskirk & grandad's war stories 06:43 The King's Regiment & junior leaders 08:52 Was junior leaders really that brutal? 10:56 Berlin, 1989: as the Wall came down 14:11 Two years in Northern Ireland 16:53 His first mass casualty: the checkpoint bombing 19:06 COP platoon & working with Special Forces 19:54 2006: forging 2 Duke of Lancaster's 22:13 "The biggest drug in the world": combat & brotherhood 23:19 Writing the book to cope with the aftermath 24:53 Boys becoming men: the first contact 26:30 Deploying on the 11th of November 28:39 When two soldiers crumbled under fire 30:56 Coaxing a broken soldier back into the fight 32:37 Thresholds: knowing what each man can take 33:46 Tested by war: bringing 120 men home 35:45 A five-hour firefight: "Watch Black Hawk Down" 42:22 A Brigadier takes a Kingsman's place 43:16 Losing his close friend Graham 45:23 The 2am call home 47:32 Phoning the families himself 50:26 Yellow 12: the Warrior hit from beneath 54:09 Why he wrote the book 55:50 Payback: the armoured ambush 57:38 Leaving Basra & reflections on Iraq 58:48 Wrapping up Follow Lee on social media for more: ▶︎ Facebook -   / lee.matthewsbmma   ▶︎ Instagram -   / leematthewsofficial   ▶︎ Website - www.leematthewsofficial.com ▶︎ Lee's Book - https://shorturl.at/fyGI7 Recorded and Produced by Liverpool Podcast Studios ▶︎ Web - http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com ▶︎ Instagram -   / liverpoolpodcaststudios   ▶︎ LinkedIn -   / liverpool-podcast-studios