At the centre of the war in Afghanistan, West Yorkshire?s brave serving troops still have their family and friends in their hearts and minds in the run up to Christmas.
British soldiers in the war zone were sent over five times more letters and parcels than usual this week, with loved ones posting around 18,000 bags of mail weighing over 130 tonnes.
Servicemen and women are keener than ever to pass on their Christmas messages as they work through the festivities in blustery desertscapes.
Trooper Jamie Beales, who is from Leeds, is currently serving at Main Operating Base Price, near Gereshk, Afghanistan.
He said: ?I wish all my family and friends a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
?Also happy birthday to my dad and sister Paige.?
Leeds Trooper Jack Taylor is serving with the Nahr-e-Saraj (NES) District Advisory Team.
His message said: ?Merry Christmas to my girlfriend Private Bianca Smith ? looking forward to R and R and some festive activities.?
Another local soldier out with the NES District Advisory Team, Lance Corporal Scott Rothery, from Leeds, added: ?Merry Christmas and I?m looking forward to being a Dad and to R and R.?
Their messages come as items including new socks, gloves and sweets flood into Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
The gifts are dished out to units operating in smaller, remote bases by helicopter and trucks.
Yesterday, bags of mail were stacked up at the passenger handling facility in Bastion, known as ?mini Heathrow?, ready to be flown to patrol bases and checkpoints in time for Christmas.
Guardsman Tom Oates, from Leeds, is currently serving in Forward Operating Base Oulette.
He said: ?I wish all my family a very merry Christmas and a happy new year and a special Christmas to my girlfriend Sarah, I love you loads. See you all next year.?
Fellow Forward Operating Base Oulette worker Lance Bombardier David Mackwell, from Leeds, said: ?I wish all my family back home a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year. Have a drink on me?.
Castleford Lance Corporal Colin Walstow, who is serving in Patrol Base Hayatullah, Afghanistan, said: ?Merry Christmas to everyone back home, hope it?s a good one and be sure to have a drink for me.?
As well as packages and cards, the army has also processed around 11,500 e-blueys, an electronic way of sending a letter, over the festive period, which can be sent electronically from the UK and are printed in Camp Bastion.
The machines fold up and seal the letters to ensure privacy is maintained.
nfl schedule how to cook a turkey emma stone Frys tryptophan BestBuy.com Kohls Black Friday
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন