THE 2nd Royal Tank Regiment welcomed more than 800 family members and friends of its soldiers to a spectacular open day in Tidworth ahead of the regiment’s deployment to Afghanistan next month The day was organised to bring together families from across the regiment’s recruitment areas and as far afield as Scotland before their upcoming deployment to Helmand Province.

Commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jason Williams, said: “We are all in this together and we will get through it together by supporting each other, no matter where you might be in the country or your soldier’s role on operations.”

The families were given welfare packs which included details on how to contact their loved ones in Afghanistan and information on the many levels of support that is offered to them.