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| Carols and Santa hats for troops | Carols and Santa hats for troops |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| British soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq will be celebrating Christmas with turkey dinners and Santa hats. | British soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq will be celebrating Christmas with turkey dinners and Santa hats. |
| With Christmas trees and tinsel decorating the bases, some troops will be served dinner by their superiors, continuing a festive Army tradition. | With Christmas trees and tinsel decorating the bases, some troops will be served dinner by their superiors, continuing a festive Army tradition. |
| In Basra, Iraq, one officer served his troops tea in bed on Christmas morning, while in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, a pantomime was performed. | |
| But for soldiers in the outlying bases Christmas Day was like any other day. | But for soldiers in the outlying bases Christmas Day was like any other day. |
| People want to get together with other people at Christmas time, when you can't have your family around Padre Neil Allison | People want to get together with other people at Christmas time, when you can't have your family around Padre Neil Allison |
| In the forward operating bases in Afghanistan regular guard duties continue amid the threat of Taleban attack. | In the forward operating bases in Afghanistan regular guard duties continue amid the threat of Taleban attack. |
| Festive tea | Festive tea |
| One carol service was held on Christmas Eve at the British army base of Lashkar Gar in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, where soldiers gathered to pray, sing carols and think of loved ones and fallen colleagues. | One carol service was held on Christmas Eve at the British army base of Lashkar Gar in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, where soldiers gathered to pray, sing carols and think of loved ones and fallen colleagues. |
| Padre Neil Allison said: "People want to get together with other people at Christmas time, when you can't have your family around." | Padre Neil Allison said: "People want to get together with other people at Christmas time, when you can't have your family around." |
| But at the British base at Basra airport, soldiers of the 1st Battalion, the Scots Guards, received a cup of tea from their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Willie Swinton. | But at the British base at Basra airport, soldiers of the 1st Battalion, the Scots Guards, received a cup of tea from their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Willie Swinton. |
| Later a full Christmas dinner of turkey, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings will be served - by officers. | Later a full Christmas dinner of turkey, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings will be served - by officers. |
| There is also a 5km run for charity to burn off any festive excess. | There is also a 5km run for charity to burn off any festive excess. |
| Many soldiers will be opening Christmas presents and cards sent from their loved ones back home. This year the Royal Mail agreed to waive postal charges for items being sent to service personnel abroad. | Many soldiers will be opening Christmas presents and cards sent from their loved ones back home. This year the Royal Mail agreed to waive postal charges for items being sent to service personnel abroad. |