Soldier home for Christmas

The 32-year-old sergeant, who went to school in Limavady, serves with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (1 R IRISH), based in Ternhill in Shropshire, and is currently on operational duty in the Nad-e-Ali district of Helmand Province.

He is one of the very fortunate ones who has been granted his R&R (Rest & Recuperation – the two-week mid-tour period of leave over Christmas.

Scott is the Medical Sergeant for his unit.

Alongside the Doctor, he provides initial emergency medical care to combat casualties before the casualty is flown back to the main hospital at Camp Bastion. He is also administratively responsible for all the medics operating within his battalion, as well as being responsible for the medical equipment and medications.

Delighted to be on his way back home for Christmas, Scott said: "I'm really looking forward to get back on R&R.

"It's just the luck of the draw and I was one of the lucky ones."

The soldier said he was really looking forward to seeing his family, including the baby he last saw as a three-weeks-old infant in the cot, before he went on his tour of duty.

He said: "Obviously, I'll be spending it with Amanda my wife and our four children: Courtney (10), Josh (8), Ben (5) and our latest addition 4 month-old Andrew.

"It will be fantastic to see little Andrew again.

"He was born three weeks before I deployed and when I left he was laying in a crib, so when I see him now he is going to be a lot more alert and aware of me."

Scott has been comforted by the steady supply of parcels and letters of support from friends and family while he has been away though.

"We have all been getting loads of welfare parcels and letters of support.

"It really give us a boost to knowing that friends and family are thinking of us".

Scott joined the Army in 1999 having previously attended Limavady High School.

He is due to finish his tour of duty in Afghanistan in April when he can look forward to a period of post operational tour leave.