Soldier missed sister's wedding - so sent life-size cutout instead (From Bournemouth Echo)

Soldier missed sister's wedding - so sent life-size cutout instead

11:00am Sunday 28th October 2012 in News

A SOLDIER who appeared at his sister’s wedding last month as a cardboard cut-out has arrived home to congratulate her in person.

LCpl Ben Smith, 24, from Wimborne, returned to Tidworth in Wiltshire after a seven-month tour in Afghanistan with the Kings Royal Hussars on Friday.

It meant that the soldier, who was on his first tour in the war-torn country, missed sister Michelle’s wedding.

Just a couple of hours after arriving back in the UK, Ben told the Daily Echo: “While I was out there my sister got married.

“I was hoping to come back for it, but wasn’t able to.

“It was my family’s idea to get a life-size cut out of me, which went to the wedding and reception.

“It was nice – I was a bit gutted as I wanted to be there, but it was nice to be part of it in a way and I also made a video message, which everybody watched.”

Ben will now go through a ‘normalisation’ process, as well as advising soldiers on their way out to Afghanistan, before returning to Wimborne for some well-deserved rest and relaxation time.

He added: “It’s great to be back and see the family.

“It was good, a good experience, but it was quite hot out there – not what I’m used to in the UK.

“I started out going out on patrols with the Afghan Police and then halfway through the tour I had to switch to be a vehicle commander.

“You have the threat of IEDs and insurgents, but you get used to the risk and you keep your head switched on – if you do, you will be fine.”

Ben was greeted at Tidworth by mum Marcia, dad Bob and sisters Michelle and Nicola.

“There was a lot of excitement, probably for them more than myself – you get used to working out there – but I was glad to see them,” he added.