WHILE most of us are sitting down for a traditional dinner, or opening presents with loved ones, they will be thousands of miles away from home.

Brave soldiers from Hampshire will be in the front line performing vital roles in Afghanistan this Christmas.

Army chiefs have brought in 15,000 mince pies and three tonnes each of turkey and gammon in a bid to make the desert seem more festive, but the troops’ thoughts will inevitably turn to home. As a woman who speaks one of the several languages spoken in the country, Lieutenant Claire Westerman, from Locks Heath, has an essential role helping troops communicate with locals when they are on patrol.

Because Afghan culture forbids men from talking in person to women, she is also part of a Female Engagement Team who talk to burkha-clad women and conduct body searches.

The team has only recently been established after it was discovered insurgents were using females to discreetly move weapons.

As an education officer, the 24-year-old, who is attached to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, is responsible for literacy and numeracy levels of soldiers working towards promotion, and teaches English to members of the Afghan National Army.

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Claire said this year is the first time she’ll be away from home on duty at Christmas.

She said: “Normally I’d spend Christmas with all my family at Locks Heath, a real traditional affair with a big turkey roast and trifle, then afterwards we sit around to open our presents.

“I will certainly miss all that but in a strange way I’m looking forward to the big day out here in Afghanistan too. I’ve had lots of parcels with sweets, chocolates and even a Santa hat, so I’m well prepared for the 25th.

It makes such a difference to everyone to get things from home.”

Also away from home on duty at Christmas for the first time is Lance Corporal Pete Dyde from Eastleigh.

The 26-year-old Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineer (REME) Vehicle Mechanic is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the fleet of armoured vehicles.

His tour finishes in April, meaning he is missing his traditional celebrations.

He said: “It’s a bit of a habit back home that on Christmas Eve I meet up with friends and go to the pubs in Chandler’s Ford.

“Christmas Day is spent split between my Mum’s and my girlfriend, Lindsey’s parents.

“Boxing Day is the big celebration for us when all Lindsey’s family and mine meet up. I miss my girlfriend, home life back in the flat we share, and the freedom to be able to do what you want.”

Claire’s Christmas run in Helmand

LIEUTENANT Claire Westerman will spend Christmas Eve running a festive marathon.

She aims to complete 96 laps of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shawqat in Helmand Province with two other officers, Captain Jon Toomey and Captain Greg Hutchison.

The challenge is the equivalent of a 26.2-mile marathon and is training for a 350-mile endurance exercise all three will take part in next year in Britain.

Lt Westerman said: “FOB Shawqat does not have the largest amount of real estate, as we discovered when we did a halfmarathon in November and ended up doing 47-and-a-half laps. “So come the morning of Christmas Eve, we’ll not only have the cold and each other’s banter to deal with, but the thought of nearly a hundred laps of Shawqat ahead of us too.”

Next April Claire will compete in Exercise Boru’s Bound, a run from her barracks in Tern Hill, Shropshire, to Stranraer in Scotland.

From there they will board a ferry to Belfast where they will take part in the city’s marathon, all to raise £20,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund, the Royal Irish Benevolent Fund and Help for Heroes.