Serving your country - missing your family

The troops, which include recruits from Blackburn, Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn and Pendle, will initially be based at an airfield near Basra, where the Army has recently handed back control of the area to Iraqi forces.

But for those left behind, it is the start of months of worry until their loved ones return home safely.

Reporter Deborah Lewis spoke to three East Lancashire soldiers and their families about how they will cope with spending Christmas apart.

This tour of duty is the first for Lieutenant Henry Russell-Blackburn, from Wilpshire.

He trained at Sandhurst with Princes Harry and William, and joined the Duke of Lancaster's in August 2006.

He has been preparing with his 25-strong platoon ever since, with training in Africa, Canada and Poland.

The 22-year-old spoke of his excitement before he flew to Iraq from the regiment's base in Osnabruck, Germany.

"This is the reason we joined the Army. I've known since I joined that we would be going to Iraq, it's everything we've been working towards, and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in."

Before he was deployed, Henry spent two weeks on leave at home in Walden Road spending time with his mum, dad Peter, and sister Eleanor, 14. He also visited 20-year-old sister Natalie in Chester where she is at university.

Henry added: "My family are OK with my going, they expect it really, because I'm in the Army."

Henry has wanted to be in the forces since he was a teenager, when he joined the cadets at Stonyhurst College, Hurst Green, where he was a pupil for 10 years.

The college requires all its pupils to do a year of service in the cadets when they reach 14.

Henry stayed on for the full four years, became a junior officer and at 18 was awarded the cadet's Sword of Honour, the highest accolade.

His mum Jeanette Russell-Blackburn said: "Henry has always loved military service, going into the Army is what he's always wanted to do.

"I think he's a little apprehensive about Iraq - who wouldn't be? - but it is the job he loves doing."

Mrs Russell-Blackburn, who works as a nurse at Beardwood Hospital, said it is difficult for them not to worry.

"You can't help but see things in the papers and on the news about what's going on in Iraq, so it's almost impossible to not think about Henry being out there, and sometimes it'll bring a tear to my eye, but you have to get on, and we're very proud of him.

"This is what he wants to do and we have to go along with that and be as supportive as we can."

It will not be Henry's first Christmas away from his family. After leaving Stonyhurst he spent a gap year in Australia, working in St Ignatius College, a boys' Catholic college in Sydney which is twinned with Stonyhurst.

Mrs Russell-Blackburn said: "This is not the first time, but it's very different this year. He called home on Christmas Day from Sydney, but we're not sure yet whether he'll be able to from Iraq."

The family are hoping to speak to Henry via Skype - software that allows free global video calls over the internet - on Christmas Day, when all the family is at home.

Mrs Russell-Blackburn said: "We've only just got the web-camera so haven't used it yet, but it'll be good to be able to see his face and not just hear his voice."

Henry received a few presents before he left, and his family will send a box out next month with the Ministry of Defence.

His mother said: "We were going to have an early Christmas meal before Henry left, but he was so busy catching up with friends we didn't do it.

"I think it will be a bit late by the time he gets back, so we'll just have to have a double celebration next Christmas!"

FOR Kingsman Jason Wallis and his family, spending months at a time, thousands of miles apart is a familiar way of life.

Jason, from Colne, went into the Army seven years ago, and was stationed in Cyprus with the Queen's Lancashire Regiment - which has since amalgamated with other divisions to form the Duke of Lancaster's - before moving to Germany.

Both of the countries were well-known to him, because his father George was in the RAF.

His father left the forces when Jason was 12, and they moved to Colne, where his mum Carole is from.

Twenty-seven-year-old Jason said: "I've been used to moving around. My childhood was spent in Cyprus and Germany where my father was posted.

"I've spent quite a few Christmases away from home, although this is the first time I've been on an operational deployment, in the past it's just been a normal days' work at the battalion.

"We'll probably spend Christmas Day doing what we normally do, with dinner for the lads - though no alcohol obviously - and one of us dressing up as Santa Claus!"

Jason, a former student of Colne's Park High School and Nelson and Colne College, added: "With my dad in the services, including in the Falklands, my mum has had years of having her family being away.

"I wouldn't say you ever get used to the worry, but you know what to expect.

"But I think she's more worried now that I'm going to Iraq because of all the problems."

Mum Carole, who is now separated from Jason's father, agreed: "I'm used to him being away at Christmas, I'm used to it as a way of life in general after his dad's job."

For Carole, plus Jason's siblings Emma Edmondson, 25, James, 17, and 10-year-old step-brother William, it is not the first time they have seen Jason go to Iraq.

He spent six-months based at Saddam's Palace with the QLR in 2003.

Carole, of Birtwistle Avenue, said: "I'm very proud of Jason, and although I am obviously worried, it's no more than hundreds of other mums and relatives of soldiers serving out there.

"Jason's a grown man and knew what he signed up for in the Army, as we did."

She is already collecting Christmas presents to send out to her eldest son.

"I get him things that I think he can use over there, like toiletries and chocolates, and packs of cards - there's no use in sending things that he'll only have to bring back."

She will give him bigger gifts when he returns, when the family will also hold a second Christmas celebration.

Carole, 47, said: "We'll have another Christmas meal at my house when he comes home.

"On Christmas Day itself we hope to speak to him as we always do when he's away, but if that's not possible this year, we'll speak to him another day."

The Wallises also benefit from internet technology.

"Before, it was just the odd phone calls, and letters. But now with email, we can have a lot more contact, which is much better."

Military life is very much part of Kingsman Gary Davis's family history.

For Burnley man Gary, joining the Army realised his childhood ambition. Indeed he was barely out of childhood when he joined aged 15, following in the footsteps of his maternal aunts Lindsay and Leslie, who spent nine and three years in the Army respectively.

Now 21, Gary said he was looking forward to his first operational deployment to Iraq.

The former Towneley High pupil said: "I missed out on the QLR's deployment in 2003 because I was too young, so I'm looking forward to finally getting there - I grew up on quite a rough Burnley estate so I think Basra will be a home from home!

"Although I've been in the Army for six years, this is the first Christmas I'll be away from home, I've been lucky in the past.

"But I'm not too bothered about it. I had a break of a few weeks just before we went, it was quite emotional saying goodbye to everyone. I miss my family, and going out with my mates in Burnley - but it's the job."

Gary leaves behind his mum Carole Davis, brothers Andrew, 24, and Michael, 14, and grandparents Barbara and Brian Whittam, who he lived with in Fulledge from 12 to 15 years old.

He still returns to their house in Athens View when he is on leave.

Mrs Whittam, 69, said: "Gary knew what he wanted to do from a very early age, like my two daughters.

"He was always playing with toy soldiers. He joined the Army Cadets in Burnley as soon as he could, and loved every minute of it, and he still does in the Army now.

"It's not a job to him, he thinks everything about it is great, and the discipline has been very good for him.

"He knew what the end result might be, all soldiers do, as do their families. I think he's apprehensive about Iraq, but I don't think you'd be normal if you weren't.

"We worry a lot of course, as thousands of families do all the time, and when you read the papers, you worry more. Carole of course gets upset because she's his mum. You never stop worrying about your kids but I tell her to put any silly thoughts out of her head.

"I think it's awful what's going on over there, but we accept that this is the life he chose and we all support him. So many families have to do the same.

"Gary is doing what he wants to do, and loves it - not many people can say that."

His family is waiting to see what will happen at Christmas, but are planning to send some presents over.

Gary said: "I'm going to try to go six months without too much contact - it's my way of coping, it makes you miss people more if you speak to them."

Mrs Whittam said: "We normally keep in touch by text and email, and we'll try to speak to him on Christmas Day but otherwise we'll be looking forward to his homecoming in April, when we'll make up for him not being here over Christmas."