Festive treat for squaddies as they are served tea in bed by their commanding officers

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Officers across the two combat zones will be serving up turkey dinners to rank-and-file soldiers as part of a long-standing festive army tradition.

And soldiers of the 1st Battalion, the Scots Guards, at the British Basra Airport base, were awoken this morning with a rare cup of tea in bed.

The unlikely tea lady was their commanding officer, Lt Col Willie Swinton.

Scroll down for more...

Celebration: British troops have a meal on Christmas day in the southern province of Helmand

Christmas trees and tinsel are on display in the unlikely setting of the deserts of southern Iraq and Afghanistan's Helmand Province.

In Afghanistan, now the biggest theatre for British armed forces, it will be a Christmas of sharp contrasts.

For those in the huge Camp Bastion base in the centre of the province, the festival has already been marked with carols and a pantomime.

There will be a welcome taste of home on offer in the base's cook houses.

But for those in the outlying Forward Operating Bases (Fobs) it will be a day much like any other with guard duties and the constant danger of Taliban attacks.

For British troops serving in Iraq, it is the first Christmas since the US-led invasion of 2003 in which they have not been on an active combat role.

Following the handover of Basra Province earlier this month, UK forces in the south of the country are now on an "overwatch" mission, providing backup if needed for Iraqi security forces rather than actively intervening.

And with only 4,500 British troops left in Iraq - a figure set to be almost halved within the next three months - many question how many, if any, will be there next Christmas.