UK troops in Afghanistan get £1 each to celebrate Christmas

Britisih troops deployed to Afghanistan far away from their families were given only £1 each to celebrate Christmas.

There are five hundred British troops deployed to Afghanistan and they were allocated a total of just £500 for Christmas, the Sunday Times revealed. This means each soldier gets only £1. 

This action by penny-pinching defence chiefs have left the British troops lagging far behind their foreign counterparts. American soldiers have reportedly been sent 8 Christmas trees, turkeys, decorations and gifts – and have even organised a special screening of the new Star Wars film.

One British officer serving in Kabul told the Sunday Times: "The contrast between the American and British approach is staggering. As an army we don’t have as much money as the US, but even the Danish and Mongolians seem to be doing more."

Theresa May paid tribute to the forces in her Christmas message but the men and women on the ground have not seen her words translated into funds.

One soldier said: "They haven’t even sent us enough for a coffee. The Americans send in more money to feed the stray cats on their compound."

Afghanistan remains Britain’s largest overseas deployment but soldiers feel forgotten as the war enters its 17th year.