Glasgow soldier, 18, deployed to Russian border to help train Estonian soldiers for potential attacks

A soldier from Glasgow was deployed on a major military exercise in Estonia close to the Russian border.

Fusilier David Whyte, of the 2nd Battalion in The Royal Regiment of Scotland, joined thousands of other British Army troops also taking part in Exercise Hedgehog.

The exercise, which involved 17,000 troops from 12 nations, marked the 18-year-old’s first overseas deployment.

David, who was born in Glasgow, spoke on his first deployment saying: “It was something completely different getting on a military flight to get here.

Fusilier David Whyte of the 2nd Battalion in The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Army Communications Branch

“Sitting on a massive RAF plane was a bit different to getting on a Jet2 plane to go on holiday.”

The exercise, which ran from May 9 to 24, aimed to test the ability of the Estonian armed forces in their response to potential attacks from Russia.

It was also organised to to practice the rapid and large-scale deployment of allied forces to Estonia.

David joined the army at 16 training to be a soldier the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, England.

The exercise saw 17,000 troops from 12 nations deployed to Estonia. Army Communications Branch

“I joined the Army because it was something different, not sitting in an office. While at Harrogate, I enjoyed going on a battlefield tour to France.”

He added: “My proudest moments so far have been passing out at Harrogate and getting through the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick.”

David’s brother, who joined the Army two weeks after him, was also deployed to Estonia with a different company.

David’s regiment, 2 SCOTS, formed a Battlegroup in the Nursipalu training area in south-east Estonia where they have conducted urban and woodland combat training.