Troops to be treated by officers to nice cup of tea in bed

SOLDIERS on tour in Afghanistan will celebrate Christmas with cups of tea in bed and a traditional dinner served by senior officers.

Soldiers from the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, (1 Scots), will be given the treat as part of an army tradition for special occasions.

At the main operating base, Price, in Helmand Province, privates and corporals will wake up on Christmas morning with tea and coffee served by sergeants, warrant officers and other senior ranks. The same practice will be carried out during dinner on Christmas Day at the base at Camp Tombstone, where roast turkey and Brussels sprouts will be on the menu.

Activities have been planned for the troops at both camps, including carol services, a festive-themed quiz, football and volleyball competitions,

Captain Alistair Cuthbertson, 44, originally from Barrhead, said soldiers and officers will do their best to make the most of the festive period, despite being about 4,500 miles away from their families in the UK.

“It is difficult for people to be away from their families while on operations, especially at this time of year,” he said.

Presents and cards from home have been arriving in Camp Bastion, with more than 130 tonnes of mail brought into the military base for UK troops over the last week.

Welfare staff have arranged for gifts to be sent to forward operating bases to make sure all of the soldiers have something to open on Christmas morning.