Exclusive footage shot by a Kiwi soldier in Afghanistan has been released as part of a new documentary following one of the last tours to the troubled country. Afghanistan: The Soldiers' Story, shot by Corporal Aaron Horrell and compiled by South Coast Productions, shows day-to-day life for the troops and the aftermath of fatal attacks on soldiers from Kiwi Company in 2012. This five-part series reveals a story of courage and heartbreak, comradeship and sacrifice.

When Corporal Aaron Horrell​ gained permission to film his tour of Afghanistan with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) he never imagined the footage he would capture would become part of history.

Alongside interviews conducted on his return to New Zealand, Horrell's film has resulted in a first for our modern-day soldiers, a documentary direct from the frontline.

NZDF Fallen NZ soldiers, from left, Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone, who died on August 4, 2012, and Richard Harris, Luke Tamatea and Jacinda Baker, who died two weeks after the Battle of Baghak.

Afghanistan: The Soldiers' Story premiered in Horrell's hometown of Gore in June and featured online for the first time on Stuff.



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The film follows 150 soldiers as part of CRIB 20 – NZDF's 20th rotation of troops to Afghanistan in 2012.

During the tour, five Kiwi soldiers were killed.

On August 4, Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone were killed in a clash with insurgents in Bamiyan province near Baghak.

Two weeks later, Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, Corporal Luke Tamatea and Private Richard Harris were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in hit an improvised explosive device (IED).

It was a trip that changed the 16-year veteran's life, alongside those he served with.

"I wanted to record a part of New Zealand's history that I was part of and my mates, so that we could show New Zealand what Kiwi soldiers do on modern day operations," the 43-year-old said.

"I had around 150 soldiers and families relying on me to follow through with this story being told, in honour of our fallen soldiers and those wounded while on operation."



The cameras rolled throughout the six-month deployment, capturing everything from everyday life in the camps – sing-alongs, gym workouts and joking around – to the aftermath of the Battle of Baghak and the IED explosion.

"I just filmed everyday life as a soldier and when security allowed for me to bring the camera out, I took footage.

"As the tour progressed, and the threat state got higher, and incidents began incurring, the footage became more valuable and important," Horrell said.

"Throughout the major incidents of July and August, the footage really shows reality of what may happen in deployments."

Horrell said he picked when it felt right to turn the cameras on.

"After Pralli was killed, and the tankies were being told, there were moments I chose not to use the camera for respect. You've got to be human about things, although you want that emotion, you've got to be respectful."

Horrell said the documentary had been cathartic for those involved in the tour – both for the soldiers who served and their families at home.

"Having a finished the film, ready for the public, is a great satisfaction knowing that persistence has paid off, knowing that New Zealand is about to see a story that needs to be told.

"After showing some of the soldiers involved in the deployment, they have satisfaction that there is a truthful story out there. Wrongful speculation [about the tour] has hurt the soldiers involved so this documentary helps clarify any wrong information.

He said the families of the fallen were keen to be involved in the project.

"They have a sense of pride. It has assisted with their healing process.

The families have been upset by accusations and ignorance around media and after viewing this documentary, they have a sense of closure that the story has been told truthfully and honours their loved ones.

Horrell said when approached, many families of the fallen agreed to be a part of the project because they knew it was "important for their story to be told, not just for them but for their loved ones".

"So now the New Zealand public sees the story through the soldiers' eyes, as they saw it, you can't get anymore truthful than that."

* Former Fairfax journalist Greer Berry appears alongside her husband Captain Caleb Berry in this documentary.