Troops enjoy Christmas dinner in Afghanistan

A Military Operations news article

26 Dec 10

British troops in Afghanistan may be thousands of miles away this Christmas but they have not gone without their traditional Christmas dinner.

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Machine Gun Platoon enjoy Christmas dinner in Patrol Base Shizad
[Picture: Sgt Rupert Frere RLC/Crown Copyright/ 2010]

The MOD has sent over six tonnes of festive food to Afghanistan to give our forces a taste of Christmas while on operations.

The MOD has sent:

- Two tonnes of turkey;
- One and a half tonnes of gammon;
- Half a tonne of sprouts
- 200 Kilos of cranberry sauce;
- 1000 iced Christmas cakes;
- A tonne of Christmas pudding;
- 15,000 mince pies; and
- 45,000 After Eight mints.

There was also a gift for every soldier as Charity UK4UThanks! became Santa's little helper; providing 22,500 Christmas boxes to troops all over the world which contained a host of goodies bought with money donated from members of the public.

The presents were unwrapped by troops serving in Afghanistan on Christmas Day.

Lance Corporal Zac Dunnings enjoys Christmas dinner

Lance Corporal Zac Dunnings from 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Machine Gun Platoon enjoys Christmas dinner in Patrol Base Shizad
[Picture: Sgt Rupert Frere RLC/Crown Copyright/ 2010]

Sergeant Rupert Frere, of the Royal Logistic Corps, said:

"Being deployed at Christmas is always difficult for any soldier, and it's particularly hard for me this time as a new dad with my wife and daughter back at home in Colchester.

"But it's a great comfort knowing that the Army, and the other services, do what they can to make Christmas as fun as it can be for the boys and girls out here.

"Although we all understand that we're here to do a job and operations take priority, everyone appreciates the opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves a bit at this time of year.

"It'll never be the same as a Christmas at home, but the little things do make a massive difference."