Rifleman Phil Beddis had a lucky escape on his birthday.

The dad-of-one, from Berry Hill in the Forest of Dean, had to take cover in a ditch on the day he turned 31 on October 18.

He said: “I was in Bastion when there was a rocket attack. I had to jump into a ditch and wait for the all clear. It was pretty nerve-racking at the time. I saw the rocket come over. It landed about 500 metres away but didn’t explode.”

Rifleman Beddis, normally a plasterer and on his first tour, goes out in helicopters to pick up the injured.

Corporal Dean Ratcliff says the support troops have had from home has been unbelievable.

The 35-year-old, from Dursley, who is on his fifth tour with the Territorial Army, says they have been inundated with parcels of goodies and letters from people in the UK.

They were particularly touched to receive a ‘wall’ of messages of support sent by loved ones in early December.

Cpl Ratcliff, who has been full-time with the TA since 2002 and is in Afghanistan with Corunna Company 6 Rifles, said: “It’s a massive boost to have them. The public have also been amazing with what they have been sending in.”

He said he would definitely recommend joining the TA.

He said: “If lads are thinking about joining the Army it’s a good eye opener to come and do this.”

One of Corporal Mark Nairn’s fears before going to Afghanistan was encountering camel spiders.

The 31-year-old, from Matson, Gloucester, posted there in September, is relieved he has not seen one yet, although one did get into his tent when he wasn’t there.

He works for British Military Fitness in the UK as a PTI instructor. One of his roles in Camp Bastion is to man the main entrance gate.

The dad of seven-year-old daughter Mya-may regularly writes to her. He said: “I tell her about the weather and the animals I have seen such as camels, sheep and goats.”