I spent Christmas 2007 in Afghanistan’s notorious Helmand Province with members of the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) who were on a six-month tour of duty. This was the first of my daily reports.

This is not the first Christmas former Scarborough Technical College student Captain Henry Bowden has been away from his family – but he is managing to keep up to date with the home news by checking out newspaper websites.

He is serving on the frontlines of Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and has previously served in Northern Ireland.

Capt Bowden said: “We get the chance to use the internet every so often. When we get the papers here they’re about two weeks old so I try to use the newspaper websites.”

The sites he regular visits include the Scarborough Evening News and Bridlington Free Press, as well as the papers from Driffield – because he played rugby there several years ago.

But despite the news from home, Capt Bowden says he really misses his family, particularly during the festive period.

He said: “Absolutely, I will miss my family. This is my second time in Afghanistan and you get used to it. You look forward to seeing them. You get on with your job, that’s what you’re expected to do.”

Capt Bowden is based near Lashkar Gar and is due to finish his tour of duty in March.

The officer, who spent his early years in Bridlington and Beverley was keen to send a Christmas message to his brothers, James and Tom, and his sister Alice.

His father David is a retired GP and worked for many years in Bridlington, and he sent his best regards to him and Elizabeth, his mother.

From The Scarborough Evening News on Monday, December 24, 2007.