A mother is sending “morale parcels” to support her soldier sons during a six-month deployment in Africa.
“Band of Brothers” John, 38, Erik, 35, and David Rawdon, 31, signed up for 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment as teenagers.
They have all completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and this month John and David are heading to Mali as part of a UN peacekeeping mission while Erik remains in the UK.
Proud mum Melanie Norman, 59, is helping her boys and their “Army family” by mailing 2kg boxes containing food and other useful items.
She said: “They are not desperate and won’t go hungry but they are going to miss things they are used to in England.
“I always send parcels when they are away.
“It’s not just for my boys, it’s showing some respect for their whole regiment.”
Warrant officers John and Erik, and Captain David all serve in “the Poachers”, with recruits mostly from eastern England.
The brothers have risen through the ranks and have seven kids between them.
Mum-of-five Melanie, of Horncastle, Lincs, has already started packing the boxes with toiletries, sweets and Jammie Dodgers.
Magazines, luxury tea bags, hot chocolate and coffee are also on the list.
Melanie said: “The heat is extreme out there.
“The morale boxes are filled with things they will take out with them which are not readily available to buy in Africa.”
John and David will fly out to Western Africa later this month and are expected
to return in December.
Anyone wishing to support the regiment should visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/soldiercarepackages
