Far more than a weekend warrior: Cpl McNiven’s Christmas in Helmand

Christmas away from their family is hard for any serviceman or woman – but one soldier will feel the heartache of the first time away from his children, and the first away from his wife in their 11 years together.

Territorial Army soldier Corporal Ian McNiven, 28, will be in Afghanistan on Christmas Day while wife Claire, son Joshua, nine, and three-year-old daughter Rebecca are at home in Dundee.

Cpl McNiven, from the 7th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, is serving in Helmand province, attached to Alpha (Grenadier) Company, 3 Scots.

After 11 years in the Territorial Army, this is his first tour abroad. He arrived in mid-September and is based at Patrol Base Kalang in Nad e-Ali, where he will stay until he goes home in March – bar two weeks “R&R” leave in the new year.

This will be the first Christmas away from his children – and also the first away from Claire, who he has been with for 11 years, and married to for five.

The family have planned a late Christmas when Cpl McNiven, an outdoor education instructor, goes home on leave, but he is not relishing the thought of being away from his loved ones.

“This is my first time away from them. All the way through my training I managed not to miss their birthdays and stuff like that, and I tried to get Christmas off but couldn’t,” he said.

“I told Claire right at the start, don’t expect me to be back for Christmas, but really tried to get it off.

“She’s a bit disappointed because it’s the first Christmas I won’t be with her and the kids. We’ve been together for 11 years and it’s the first time I won’t be there with her.”

Although he won’t be there, Joshua and Rebecca will not be missing out on gifts: “We pre-bought most of the presents for the kids. I went out with the kids in August and saw what they wanted.

“I have been on the text and phone to them and heard about what they want, so I’ve been able to say to Claire, ‘let’s get them that’.

“My eldest one will actually love it – because I’m away he’ll get a load more splashed out on him.”

For Mrs McNiven, 26, a nursery nurse, Christmas without her husband will not be easy.

“I knew at some point Ian would have to go but nothing could have prepared me for it actually happening,” she said.

“When he first told me he had to go I was worried, then he said he wouldn’t be home for Christmas, well, that made it worse. I didn’t know how I was going to tell the children.

“I asked him to find a way to get home but I know it’s not that easy and I know we are not the only family that will be apart this Christmas.”

She said the children had been promised two Christmases.

“Since the first day Ian left, I have worried, cried, felt nervous and anxious and this won’t change until I get him home,” Mrs McNiven added.

“The only thing keeping me going is that I am so proud of him, that he is my very brave husband.

“I am also extremely proud that he chose to protect our family and defend this country.

“I am so proud of my children too. They have stayed so strong during Ian’s tour and continue to be, even though they have been without their dad for so long. They are what keeps me going.”