Guardsman Matthew Martin joined the Army when he was 18, inspired since childhood by one of his earliest memories, watching the Trooping the Colour on the television.

As a Grenadier Guard, taking part in the ceremony on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall more than a decade later was one of his proudest moments.

Last week, Gdsm Martin was back on the Island – where he lived until he was five – with colleagues L Cpl Julian Perreira , and S/Sgt Julie Austin-Williamson who have seen action in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Gdsm Martin finished a tour of duty in Afghanistan at the end of last year and is preparing to transfer to Wellington Barracks in London where his duties will be ceremonial. He is spending time with family in Minster.

His grandfather, Brian Lyons, is secretary and welfare officer for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families’ Association – Forces Help (SSAFA).

Gdsm Martin, 23, described his experience of serving in a war zone as “the most surreal experience” of his life.

Despite facing death on a daily basis he said he forgot about the risk of being killed and focused on doing his job.

He said the dangers he and his colleagues were up against only hit home when “one of the boys” was killed.

He said: “The worst thing was losing friends. There were six lads that we lost and you know these boys.

“It is not nice knowing your friends have been killed.

He described being on the receiving end of mortar bombs and rocket-propelled grenades and said there were times when he feared for his life.

“There were occasions I thought I was going to be killed,” said Gdsm Martin. “For the first time I was really scared but then you have to just crack on with the job. And you have been really well trained so you learn how to deal with that.”

He launched the Sheerness Times Guardians 150th anniversary beer last week with friend and colleague L Cpl Perreira, 20, from Ipswich, who has also just returned from Afghanistan, and S/Sgt Austin-Williamson, 39, who has served three tours in Iraq and has been posted to 36 Engineers in Maidstone.

For more on the trio, see this week's Times Guardian.