The first of the stories of soldiers from the Scunthorpe who were serving in the second Gulf War who were due too return home.

Reading between the lines I reckon this was from an army press release, rather than speaking with them face to face, because there is a comment from the army and news about the e-bluey.

And, to this day, I am not sure why there is a green soft toy on his shoulder but I am guessing it is a lucky mascot.

North Lincolnshire soldier in Gulf looks forward to a drink at home

A NORTH Lincolnshire soldier, whose long tours of duty have seen him in the The Falklands and Northern Ireland, has been at the vanguard of the liberation of southern Iraq.

Cpl Richard Elliott (38) has spent the past few weeks in the desert heat of Kuwait and Iraq with other British troops stationed there.

And, with echoes of the classic film Ice Cold In Alex, the main thing that he is looking forward to is a beer.

He said: “After all the army rations I’ve eaten, a different sort of food would be nice – and a beer!

“After many years’ exercises, the chance to do it for real is awesome. I’ve just got one year to do in the army and this is the experience of a lifetime.

“I’m looking forward to a long holiday when I get back and to seeing my fiancee and my son – and that beer, of course.”

The former South Axholme Comprehensive school pupil joined up in 1981 and is one of the most experienced soldiers in his unit, having served in Northern Ireland, Canada, America, Germany, Norway, Bosnia, The Falklands. Sierra Leone, Brunei, Belize, Cyprus, Jordan and now Kuwait and Iraq.

Cpl Elliott has found that life in the desert is tough but, like many of the soldiers out there, has had years of practice during prevous operations and exercises and is well prepared.

An army spokesman said: “The hostile desert environment demands that soldiers adapt quickly – while carrying out vital tasks, sometimes over long hours.

“Home comforts are kept to an absolute minimum because units may be called upon to move at short notice. Soldiers have, however, been able to make the most of the space and facilities they have.”

The spokesman added that water was the desert’s most important resource and that soldiers need to be aware they need more fluids than normal.

He said: “While working potentially longer under the desert sun they must drink a minimum of 10 litres of water a day.”

Like other servicemen in the Gulf, Cpl Elliott will soon be able to keep in touch with family and friends using the new ‘e-bluey’ system which is currently undergoing tests.

This will be the electronic version of the letter of the postal blue system – a free service allowing letters home from where they are stationed.

The e-bluey allows friends and relatives to keep in touch via the internet and for emails to be printed in the operational theatre in the form of a regular letter.

This means messages from loved ones can be given to the soldier in a matter of hours – far quicker than the postal system would allow.

From the Scunthorpe Telegraph on Friday, April 25, 2003.