RAW, honest and varied.

These are the poignant words of troops, who, among the desert dust took a few moments to put pen to paper during their time on the Afghan frontline.

War artist Derek Eland spent a month in Helmand province asking soldiers to record their feelings on his postcards.

Uncensored, their anonymous comments range from complaining about Army routine to the shock of losing fellow comrades.

In one, a message reads: “Nothing compares to the first time getting shot at. Adrenaline is sky high and lasts ages. But saying that I think the last time I saw one of the lads getting injured was probably one of the worst things I have had to deal with.”

Mr Eland, a former paratrooper turned artist, created a diary room experience for troops, providing them with blank cards and offering them the opportunity to write down their thoughts.

He worked primarily with companies from Colchester’s 16 Air Assault Brigade, including the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment and 1st Battalion, Irish Guards.

He also collected message cards written by other personnel including engineers, medics, dog handlers and members of the Afghan National Army.

Mr Eland, who left the Army in 1988 and belonged to the brigade’s 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, completed hazardous daily patrols to outposts and checkpoints to collect more than 400 postcards.

He said: “It was an enormous privilege to spend time with these soldiers at the front line and to help create the extraordinary piece of artwork.

“It is essentially a unique self-portrait of this modern conflict, written at the time by the soldiers in their own words. This is their story.”

It was his first visit to Afghanistan and in order to prepare himself, Mr Eland said he visited Colchester’s barracks.

Colonel Hugo Fletcher, deputy commander of the brigade, added: “Derek Eland’s genius has been in capturing the soldiers’ own thoughts during the operation; the display is their story, it offers an informed sight into the arduous and challenging operations in Afghanistan, reflecting their intelligence, stoicism and wit.

“For the wider public and future generations it will provide a deeper understanding of the nature of operations in Afghanistan.”

The message cards have now gone on show at the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester, in an exhibition titled On Our Own Words: Soldiers’ thoughts from Afghanistan.

Covered with sand and weather stains, some comments were even written on sections of ration boxes or help together with tape.

They will be on show until June 24 2012.