A father's duty

A soldier returned to active service in Afghanistan this week after arriving home on leave in time for the birth of his first child.

Trooper Malcolm Hall, 19, of Chestnut Avenue, Bingham, arrived home for two weeks, days before his girlfriend, Miss Jodie Horton, gave birth to their son.

Alfie-James Peter Hall was born on August 7 and weighed 8lbs 11ozs.

Trooper Hall, who spent five months helping to train the Afghan National Police near the Lashkar Gah district, said it was amazing to be a father.

“These two weeks have gone so quickly and I have really enjoyed seeing all my family and showing off my son,” he said.

Unfortunately the day after Alfie-James was born, Trooper Hall contracted tonsillitis and was unable to hold his son for over a week, but said he now had something to look forward to when he returned home again at the end of October.

His girlfriend, Miss Horton, 18, of Friars Crescent, Newark, said the time apart had not been as difficult as they had both initially thought as they had been keeping in touch on through the internet once if not twice a day.

“It’s been great because while he’s been away he’s been able to see my bump growing over the computer,” she said.

“I’m really proud of him and it was important to both of us that he got back in time and luckily I went into natural labour on the day Alfie-James was due.”

Trooper Hall joined the Army nearly two years ago and is attached to the Queen’s Royal Lancers, but has been attached to another squadron while in Afghanistan.

He travelled back to Afghanistan on Wednesday for another seven weeks and said he could not wait until he could spend time with his new family again.

When he returns, he hopes to go on a language course to learn the Afghan language, Pashto.

He said: “I have picked it up quite well over the past five months and if I learn it, then I could hopefully be an interpreter for generals when I eventually go back.

“I’m enjoying being out there, but it’s really hard work and I miss my family.”