Some of the commando chefs have been cooking for Royal Marines at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province while their colleagues located at some of the Forward Operating Bases have been doing likewise for the men of 40 Commando operating on the front line over Christmas.

Being commando-trained, the chefs can expect to help with sentry duties and go out on patrols as well as carrying out their culinary tasks. Marines at Camp Bastion will visit the galley �?the tradition of naval terminology being maintained even in the middle of the desert.

Colour Sergeant Richard Martin, Chief Cook of 40 Commando, said:

"It’s great to do Christmas dinner to remind the lucky men at Camp Bastion that Christmas is still happening! It’s a shame more of 40 Commando aren’t here with us but we know they have a vital job to do on the front line."

Christmas lunch is traditionally served by the officers and Senior NCOs of the Commando unit and this year will be no different. One of those officers, Captain Mark Elliott, Adjutant of 40 Commando, said:

"It’s a long-standing tradition within the Royal Marines that officers serve the Marines their Christmas dinner by way of thanking them for their hard work throughout the year. Luckily for them, we don’t actually cook it!"

A full menu was expected to be served to the Marines today, including prawn cocktail, soup, roast beef, ham and of course the traditional turkey with all the trimmings.

The Royal Marines from 40 Commando, who are normally based in Taunton, arrived in Afghanistan in October 2007 and are halfway through their six month tour of duty in northern Helmand. They are working within 52 Infantry Brigade alongside the Royal Marines of the Armoured Support Group and their colleagues from the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.

Santa goes commando

Meanwhile the men of 40 Commando have been inundated with parcels from well-wishers across the UK. The packages have been sent by family and friends, the Royal Marines Association, ex-Royal Marines and servicemen, and members of the public. Marines at Camp Bastion have been working up to 14 hours a day to sort and distribute almost 6,000 parcels over the last week alone to different outstations, or Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), all over Helmand.

Major Alex Murray, Second in Command of 40 Commando, said:

"The public support this Christmas has been fantastic. We have received parcels from all sorts of people, from our fabulous Royal Marines Association to members of the public with little or no connection with the Royal Marines. To all of them we are incredibly grateful."

Lance Corporal Sean Keeling of 40 Commando said he had often found himself buried under "literally thousands" of parcels. He added:

"The support from home has been unbelievable."

The contents have varied hugely but typically include toiletries, socks, confectionary, magazines and playing cards.

Royal Marines at the FOBs have tried to reply to senders whenever their operations allowed them to. Major Murray told his own story of the impact the parcels have had:

"I personally received a box of Harrods tea bags, which had a note in saying ‘From an 80 year-old ex-Para. Keep up the good work'. I could just imagine this veteran using his pension money on what he saw as a decent cuppa after a lifetime of drinking military tea. There was no name or address supplied so I haven’t been able to drop him a line, but if he’s reading this then thanks very much! It was a great morale boost to receive a parcel and indeed a great cuppa!"