TOYS FOR OUR BOYS

im chuffed to here this as my husband is with 32 RA and in afgahn so his 3 sons are gunna miss this xmas x ty for this great gesture

By NATALIE ELSON.. Posted November 30 2009 at 11:26 PM.

I would just like to point out that many mums and dads are away with the forces over Christmas that are not serving in Afghanistan not just the Navy. I think it is digusting that some people are turning this good will gesture, into a moaning session, because there spouses are not serving in Afghanistan. Surely knowing that your spouse is not in Afghanistan AT ALL is better than free Christmas presents for the children? Have some concideration for the families who have already lost loved ones there?

By Molly.. Posted November 27 2009 at 6:31 PM.

What a great idea! Does this apply to families overseas where a parent is serving in Afghanistan over Christmas? I just wish SOME people that have left comments could be more grateful! Especially when it is mainly the Army that are killed or injuried out there. Would be a good idea to include these families too? Many thanks to News of the World and Tesco. x

By Nicola Wilson.. Posted November 27 2009 at 6:09 PM.

When and where are you going to be touring, I think that is absolutely brilliant to recognise what Army Families actually go through. Giving something back to the Children who sufferer the most, will benefit all. THANK YOU NEW OF THE WORLD AND TESCO! :) You are the Forces Families very own Santa

By Cat.. Posted November 27 2009 at 9:53 AM.

hi i would just like to say this is a fab idea and very generous.my husband is currently serving in afghan and wont be home for xmas.i have to girls aged 11 and 12.we live in cyprus and my husband serves with the 2nd battalion the duke of lancasters reg.is there any way in which you could send these xmas gifts to the children over here who's dads are also serving as we are away from our families aswell at this special time of year and would appreciate it very much to know people care x thank you x

By shella pyper.. Posted November 26 2009 at 8:37 PM.

thank you NOTW and Tesco this is wonderful, my fiancee went away when our little boy was two weeks old and will not return properly untill he is 8 months old. as we are not married yet and do no live on camp would we still qualify? (if that is the way to put it) and if so how do we find out if they are coming to the camp my fiance is based at normally? as i have found if you are not married sometimes you are 'forgotten'.
wishing everyone a happy christmas in advance and hoping a safe return for all our men/women army/naval ect soon

By carla.. Posted November 24 2009 at 10:10 PM.

Does your Toys for Boys include the many children that are away from home and living in Germany while their Mum's and Dad's are serving away in Afghan ???

By Mrs T Lapworth.. Posted November 24 2009 at 8:42 PM.

well done to n.o.w and tescos i think this is a fabulous idea.My husband will be one of those men out there and with a seven year old and two year old it is hard, but we cope.As my husband is only in a small section as he is MI i know my children will not be on the list (it is always the large battalions and regiments that see most of these things) but i hope all the children on the list will enjoy them and have a merry christmas.

By jenny.. Posted November 23 2009 at 6:46 PM.

Hi, can I say that this is a fantastic idea. I have a husband who is away with the Grens at the moment in Afgan and our two boys will not see their Dad on Xmas day. It is nice to think that there are people out there who are thinking of us at this time and want to show there support. Can I just ask how do we get our children registered for this though????????

By Dawn Devereux.. Posted November 22 2009 at 7:42 PM.

my husband is currently in afgan and has been there a month so far he is in the coldstream guards, and will be missing our sons xmas and our anniversary, i would like to know how i would go about gettin the gifts for my son as we do not live in married quarters as i live in the north east whereas he is normaly based in aldershot. i would appreciate if someone would please get in touch with me about this please. thank you

By melissa fowler.. Posted November 22 2009 at 6:15 PM.

I think this is a wonderful idea, my husband is away for christmas and i just hope our 5 year old son won't be forgotten because he does not live on an army base. My heart goes out to all the parents and children who like myself will have to cope without our other halves this year. Thank you NOTW and Tesco!

By Samantha Burchell.. Posted November 22 2009 at 5:26 PM.

think its definately a great idea, my husband has been in afghanistan for a month now. he will b missing our daughters 1st birthday christmas my 30th and our 1st wedding anniversary. i kno he will be proud that there are people that understand how hard it is for the families and are tryin to put a smile on the faces of the little ones! thank you for doing this X

By louise long.. Posted November 22 2009 at 3:55 PM.

Some people might not like what I am going to say, but...why are soldiers' children being given £25 worth of toys?! I think it's terrible they don't get to see their Mother or Father at Christmas, but they earn money whilst fighting out there, so it's not as though they won't be getting any presents at Christmas because their parents can't afford it. I believe presents should be going to care homes for children who have NO parents this Christmas. I'll certainly be sending gifts to my local Children's Home as I believe those children who have nobody to love them would benefit more from these gifts. I don't mean to offend anyone by posting this message as I support the men and women who are fighting for our country, but I just believe the presents could go to more underpriviliged children.

By aldo.. Posted November 16 2009 at 6:54 PM.

I think this is a fantastic idea, and I fully support it, however my husband is in the Royal Navy and is also away on a 6 month deployment over christmas, but not in Afghanistan. This means that my 2 children will also miss their Dad this christmas time and wanted to highlight the fact that our boys are also serving elsewhere and miss their dad just as much!!


.

By Eve Johnson.. Posted November 16 2009 at 6:30 PM.

my daughter's dad is serving in afghanistan and will be away for christmas. would my child be on the gift list although we dont live in army accomadation.

By annie riley.. Posted November 16 2009 at 2:58 PM.

Thank you very much NOTW and Tesco from my 2 children and me!! Their Dad is in Afghan, wont be home for ages, and will miss xmas with us. Although the best present would be to have him home, this makes us, as families, feel appreciated. This has been a horrible year for the troops and with each injury and death of another soldier my fear grows for my husband. Stay safe, Swift and Bold!

By Sarah B.. Posted November 15 2009 at 7:59 PM.

OMG, armed forces wifes/families, It says it in black and white in the article Santa with a stocking full of goodies for EVERY child whose mum or dad is serving in Afghanistan. This is all 3 services RN/M, RAF and ARMY (they all come under the ARMY so that's why they are referred to as soldiers as they are on land which the ARMY is the Subject Matter Experts can you honestly say that a sailor knows exactly what to do on land - I think not and I'm sailor married to a sailor deployed)
The MOD has the names of the children these would have been taken off the serving person's JPA. The MOD needs next of kin to be registered on JPA (JPA which is your husband's pay and leave records that they control the information themselfs.) No mention on the 2 weeks RNR period that they get when on tour to come home which leads the public that they are there for a full 6 months. If they don't come home during the tour either they don't want to come home or they are there for the money.
Naffi - non public organisation which means they are out to make a profit at the expence of anyone overseas.

By issy.. Posted November 15 2009 at 7:39 PM.

i agree with rachael. as an army child, and now wife i have lived in the army life my entire life. i cant count the many christmases my dad missed being away. now i have my kids are going throught the same thing with my husband being away all the time.
he left for his tour when my son was 3 months old. when he returned 6 months later my son didnt recognise his daddy.
the naffi did nothing to support us. they are money robbing *****. they claim they are a non-benefit company, a loaf of hovis bread costs us 2.85euros. that cannot be non-benefit!
let tesco take over and make our lives a little easier.
what brilliant idea, and lets cross our fingers that BFPO addresses are included in this!
heres to the boys and girls who will be away this christmas! our heroes! x

By jaimie smith.. Posted November 15 2009 at 5:40 PM.

Great Idea but there lots of children who dont live on the barracks and try to live normal lives not only because they in afghan like my husband but because also there dad works away from home all the time. But a nice idea. Thank you

By woo.. Posted November 15 2009 at 4:45 PM.

My husband and I both serve in the Navy and have a child. My brother seveing in Afganistan with his child in the UK. Big thanks to NOTW and TESCOs.
All those with dependant children would be regonised if the JPA is updated for any member of the armed forces in Afganistan, if JPA isn't updated by the person serving then it is them to blame - it's a bit simple, it's even written in black and white - serving in Afgan.....
Royal Navy personnel at sea, they have hot showers as many times as they want, internet, TV, DVD and Wii facilities - given to the ships by the Trusts under RNRMC. Give the Army/RM/RN in theatre the respect that they deserve - on land, the threat of their lives is real!

By issy.. Posted November 15 2009 at 4:19 PM.

thank you so much for your support towards our familes, our children are little heroes themselves for copeing with their daddy or mummy being away in dangerous surroundings for such a long time...ABIG THANK YOU FROM MYSELF AND MY 3 CHILDRENXXX

By tracey alexander.. Posted November 15 2009 at 3:16 PM.

i hope british forces germany are not forgotten about as that wuld not b fair. Maybe tesco should take over the NAAFI contract as they seem to care more than the money grabbing naafi!!

By rachael.. Posted November 15 2009 at 2:59 PM.

well done to these companies, however, my husband is serving in the navy and will be away for xmas also, not in afghanistan but attached to the navy side of the operations, i don't see any mention of my son getting anything, not that we need it, but it does annoy me somewhat that the navy are usually forgotten when it comes to service people, all i ever hear is the army this the army that, soldiers this and soldiers that, there are more services than the army taking part in all this, and it would be nice if they all got the recognition for their work than just the soldiers. There a lot of naval families who don't have there parent at home as they are serving over there or are attached.

By Karen Smith.. Posted November 15 2009 at 12:53 PM.

@ Steve Elliot....The MOD would have to be told that these children do not live on Camp..if they have been told then there should be no problem..

By Anne Arnott.. Posted November 15 2009 at 1:03 PM.

well done tescos,, brilliant gesture

By jajacjon.. Posted November 15 2009 at 11:51 AM.

This is great new, and well done News of the World. My son in law is serving in Afghanistan and won't be back until next year. He has two little boys ages 4 and 16 months. While the toddler is a bit too young to understand at the moment. The 4 year old misses his daddy so much, our daughter does everything she can to make it easier for him while his daddy is not there. I'm sure that this will go a long way towards helping him know that everyone else thinks that his daddy is a great daddy and the best. Thank you in advance NOTW.

By Phil whitehead.. Posted November 15 2009 at 10:24 AM.

My Grandson's father is serving in Afghanistan; he was deployed when Alfi his son was 2 weeks old and he will not to see him again for 6 months. What about the children like Alfi that don't live on Barracks or in married quarters. Has the MOD included them on the list? (I don't think so)!! Has the Welfare officers of the units deployed took these children into account? (Out of sight, out of mind) I have just left the army after 22 years service and I no the MOD can be a little forgetful, lets hope this Christmas for those children that don’t live on the married quarters are just as important as the children that do.

By Stevie Elliot.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:31 AM.

Does this offer apply to children living at BFPO address's,they are still classed as a Uk address??

By Mrs G Hopwood.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:22 AM.

thats is one of the best things ever done,well done n o t w and tesco. Brought a little tear to my eye.and i am sure that our troops and their families will be very gratefull for such a wonderfull thing being done.once again well done n.o.t.w and tesco.....

By big girk.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:09 AM.

Well done N.O.W Anad Tesco...It is about time sombody recognised what our forces families go though....THANK YOU from all the families that will benefit

By Donna Keenan.. Posted November 15 2009 at 7:48 AM.