A TIDWORTH soldier and his family have been chosen from hundreds of entries to feature in a national charity calendar which will raise money to support children whose parents are serving in the British Armed Forces.

SSgt Mark Hollinshead is serving with the First Fusiliers in Tidworth and will feature in the Little Troopers Military Moments 2020 calendar alongside his two sons nine-year-old Owen Hollinshead and his six-year-old brother Brayden.

Their photos is one of a collection of heart-warming photos that capture special moments from British Armed Forces families as seen through the eyes of forces children.

The photo of Owen and Brayden shows their emotional reunion with their dad who spent the summer serving away on exercise.

Mum, Lian Hollinshead, said: “Mark had been away all summer on exercise and when he came home a few weeks early we decided to surprise the boys and their two siblings. The picture shows just now happy and excited they were to have their Dad home and we’re over the moon that it’s going to be included in the Little Troopers calendar.”

Little Troopers founder, army veteran and military parent, Louise Fetigan, added: “We are delighted to see personnel from Tidworth represented in this year’s calendar. All of the images in the calendar encapsulate the special bond that military children have with their serving parents.

"One of the biggest challenges military children face is being regularly separated from their serving parent for long periods, at unpredictable times and sometimes at very short notice. That’s why Little Troopers exists, to champion and support all our military children, whatever forces life sends their way.”

The ‘Military Moments’ 2020 calendar is now on sale, costing £7.50, with all proceeds helping Little Troopers to continue providing fundamental resources and initiatives to support military children such as the Little Troopers Treasures storytime app and Little Troopers Separation Pack.

Little Troopers is a registered charity supporting service children who have parents serving in our British Armed Forces, regular or reserve.

These children often face unique challenges including frequent house and school moves, as well as regular periods of separation from their serving parents for varying lengths of time due to exercises, training, operations and other service commitments.

It is the only charity in the UK that celebrates military children.