SUFFOLK troops, who have been posted to Afghanistan, now need YOUR messages of support to spur them on.The Evening Star is today urging people to send a 'bluey' to servicemen and women fighting away from home via our website.
SUFFOLK troops, who have been posted to Afghanistan, now need YOUR messages of support to spur them on.
The Evening Star is today urging people to send a 'bluey' to servicemen and women fighting away from home via our website.
Blueys, so-called after the blue-coloured free aerogrammes traditional sent to soldiers by family and friends, were issued for the first time during the early days of the Northern Ireland deployment.
Royal Marine Matt Cartwright, from Felixstowe, who went out to Afghanistan in October last year with the Coldstream Guards, based in Windsor, has today reiterated the importance of hearing from people back home after a campaign started by his parents.
His parents Ron and Liz Cartwright, of High Road West, got in touch with the Star to encourage people to send shoeboxes filled with necessities for the troops and the response was overwhelming.
Today father-of-one Matt Cartwright, 33, sent his very own bluey to thank all the Star's readers for their generosity.
In his letter, he said: “The generous folk of Suffolk gave donations in huge numbers. I think every member of my battalion has received a box, which given that Suffolk is not one of our recruiting areas, was truly outstanding.
“I will end by saying thank you on behalf of everyone that received anything at all. It really did help to know that our countrymen are behind us and supporting us every step of the way.”
The last group of army engineers from the 23 Engineer Regiment left their base in Woodbridge just two weeks ago to spend six months in the Helmand Province.
They will need lots of help and support from home as they face extremely harsh conditions.
There is a special section of the Evening Star website for you to send your blueys in a bid to support British troops.
The website has been flooded with blueys since the campaign was launched last September, when troops from the Royal Anglian Regiment and Wattisham-based 4 Regt Army Air Corps were still out there.
To send a bluey, visit www.eveningstar.co.uk/bluey
Do you have a relative out in Afghanistan now? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.
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