Treats for troops in Afghanistan -

KABUL: (MEP) – As troops in Afghanistan get into the festive spirit, for many in forward bases it will be the last Christmas British forces will spend in Helmand province.

Just a handful of forward bases remain in Helmand and by the end of next year British troops will have pulled out of Afghanistan.

In Patrol Base Lashkar Gah Durai, troops will mark Wednesday with a series of events, including their own traditional Christmas lunch.

It may be a tame celebration compared to their friends and family back home, but it will still be a change from the norm.

The base is home to some 250 personnel including troops from 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, as well as Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME); Royal Engineers; Royal Logistics Corps and supporting personnel.

Royal Welsh Captain Rich Morgan-Evans, battle commander for the armored infantry company, said: “For many people it will be business as usual which is the way it is.

“However for many of the normal soldiers they will be treated that day.

“It’s a chance for the seniors and the officers to treat the soldiers from the word go.”

A series of events have been organized, such as inter-platoon sports competitions including a memorial rugby match in memory of Warrant Officer Class 2 Warrior Sergeant Major Ian Fisher, from 3 Mercian, who was killed on November 5 when a car packed with explosives hit his Warrior armored vehicle.

Officers and senior non-commissioned officers will also serve soldiers Christmas lunch, part of a long- running military tradition on Christmas Day, followed by a festive film.

Capt. Morgan-Evans, 26, from Bristol, said: “It’s quite tame stuff by UK standards but out here when you’re living in austere conditions it’s nice for the soldiers.

“For many of them it’s their first Christmas away from home and the tour has been extended so it’s really important to make sure they have a nice day.”

Despite the tough conditions for the 250 people living in the base, he said people had all got into the festive spirit.

“People love dressing up and getting involved. Any chance for the soldiers to do something different from their daily routine.

“They can chill out and not really worry about the mundane stuff.”

Soldiers will be able to call home on Christmas Day, and many have already received presents and cards in the post in recent weeks.

“We get charities who send stuff out as well,” he said. “When you see the letters in them saying how proud people are, it’s really quite humbling.

“People really do care, and it’s nice to know. There’s a hell of a lot of support back home.”

He said many members of the armed forces were honored to be serving in one of the last tours by British troops in Afghanistan.

With the drawdown already underway, all combat troops are due to have left by the end of 2014.

There are currently just four bases remaining outside Camp Bastion, due to be closed down one by one in the New Year.

“It’s a bit of an honor I think,” Capt. Morgan-Evans said. “We will essentially be the last armored infantry company in Afghanistan; it’s obviously going to be the last operation for a while.

“Some of the guys might be sad over Christmas, but I think ultimately most of them are very proud to be out here.

“We will be drawing down, closing the base.

“But we can’t just sit here in a base until we close down. We’ve got to keep pushing out patrols in order to achieve ground domination.

“We’ve got a lot of operations and will continue to do so in the new year.

“Since we deployed we’ve been on operations pretty much every week.

“It’s been good because it gives the guys something to do, obviously the sad side is people can get hurt.

“Out here it’s such a mix of everyone all thrown into it.

“It’s a whole mix of people. It’s the only chance you really get to mix with other parts of the army, while you’re on operations.”

Lieutenant Stu Lowe, a platoon commander in 3 Mercian, said although he would rather be at home over Christmas, it would be a break from the normal daily life in PB Lashkar Gah Durai.

The 23-year-old, from Nottingham, said: “I think it will be quite nice, it’s the one day that’s definitely going to be different.”

He said he and other officers and senior NCOs would take over guard duties overnight on Christmas Eve to give soldiers a night off.

“We will go out for the night from Christmas Eve through to Christmas morning so as many guys as possible get a night off.

“Nice and early we’ll wake people up and give them a brew and stuff and hand out a few presents that we’ve had sent across and then we’ll serve them Christmas dinner later in the day.

“It’s about trying to make things as easy as possible for everyone else.

“It’s a milestone to get past, when you’ve past Christmas you’re on the home run.”