A soldier held his eight-week-old son for the first time at the weekend when he returned home from a seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Senior Aircraftman Phillip Latimer was finally able to cuddle baby Chris when he arrived back at RAF Lossiemouth.
There were tears, joy and relief as 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, were reunited with their loved ones following a demanding deployment to Camp Bastion as part of the air force’s contribution to the Nato mission in Afghanistan. The squadron, who were part of Number 5 Force Protection Wing, worked under the constant threat of attack to protect the security of the Bastion airfield and enable air operations to continue unimpeded.
They also experienced some of the most extreme weather, from debilitating heat to the first snow the Helmand Province had seen in a decade.
Wing Commander Piers “Dutch” Holland, commander of the 5 Force Protection Wing, said his men had done their jobs well and with pride.
As more than 100 troops searched for their families in the crowd, SAC Latimer finally got the chance to hold his new son in his arms.
The 25-year-old could not stop smiling as he met baby Chris and was reunited with his wife, Frances, and his oldest son, two-year-old Sam.
Mrs Latimer, who was armed with a “Welcome Home Daddy” balloon, said she was delighted her family was complete again.
“I can’t put into words how glad I am to have him back. It’s amazing,” said the 26-year-old.
“It was such a weird feeling not having him there for the birth. However we were in constant contact in the 48 hours leading up to it.
“He managed to phone just as I went into labour and was on the phone just as I gave birth.
“He phoned literally as I went into the delivery room, and 10 minutes later our son was here. He was born just at the right time.”
SAC Latimer, who is originally from Carlisle but now lives in Elgin, said the trip had been his most difficult as there was so much going on at home.
He said the next few weeks would be incredibly special as he got the chance to watch his son grow.
He said: “It was so difficult being away. But we had planned it all out so that I could be back for the longest period of time when he’s so young.
“It’s strange to think that this time last week I was out there patrolling in Afghanistan, and now I’m standing here meeting my son for the first time. It’s an incredible feeling.”
Wg Cdr Holland said he could not have asked to stand alongside better men. e said his personnel should be proud of their contribution to the Nato mission. He told them: “I am proud to have served alongside you and for what we have done.
“We’ve done our job, we’ve done it well and we’ve done it with pride.
“I am delighted that we’ve all come home.”
The squadron arrived at Camp Bastion in October to provide defence and security to the base as part of an ISAF Task Force.
Although made up mostly of RAF personnel, it also comprises members of the RAF police, RAF tradesmen and members of the Army and Royal Navy, serving alongside detachments from the Tongan Defence Service and Bosnia andHerzegovina Army.
Wg Cdr Holland said: “The base was not attacked successfully when we were there. There were lots of attempts, but none was successful.”
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