AS thousands of soldiers spend Christmas away from their loved ones, a mother and son will be just a short walk from each other on duty in Afghanistan.
Lance Corporal Sonia Doddrell and son Private Mark Doddrell work in the same logistics team at Camp Bastion in Helmand province.
The two are hoping to meet up briefly on Wednesday to share a personal moment not many servicemen are able to experience.
L/Cpl Doddrell joined the TA two-and-a-half years ago , while son Mark has been a member of the army for five years and served in a previous tour of Afghanistan
However this is his mum's first time on duty in the country..
Pte Doddrell, who turned 23 today, said he could not believe it when his mum told him she was joining him on the same tour in Afghanistan.
He said his first reaction was: "Is this a joke?"
The two work together after Sonia relocated to Camp Bastion (PA)
For his birthday, his mum had prepared a full birthday bonanza.
She said: "I have got a happy birthday banner, birthday balloons and - if his brother has sent it out on time - a birthday cake.
"He's going to kill me, but that's what mothers are for!"
Pte Doddrell, who has already been teased by his colleagues for having his mum around, said it has not been as bad as he first thought.
"I get a bit of stick but everyone is used to it now - I thought I'd get a bit more stick than I got," he said.
The pair, from Lancaster, do not work with each other on a regular basis but both are part of the General Support Squadron at the camp.
Pte Doddrell distributes equipment to units around the base and his mother issues and organises ammunition for the troops.
David Cameron met troops at Camp Bastion last week (PA)
The two workers try to meet up as regularly as possible and show signs they are still family at heart.
L/Cpl Doddrell said: "We meet up in the evenings and have a coffee but I still end up buying the KFC though."
The 40-year-old, who worked for the TA at last year's London Olympics, said how she had always wanted to join the service when she was younger.
She said: "My gran was chuffed for me, so was my grandad. My dad just thought it was a phase I was going through, my two boys just thought I was mad."
Captain Rhydian Jones said it is nice to see the two together in the camp and it is not the first example of families working together he had seen in the forces.
The 31-year-old, from York, said: "We've had it before domestically - in the UK we had a husband and wife in the same squadron, but this is my first experience of it in theatre.
"It's just about being aware of it. I knew with Mark and Sonia it was more that Mark was concerned that the guys would give him stick for it."
Since L/Cpl Doddrell has now outranked her 23-year-old son, Cpt Jones thinks Pte Doddrell may be a bit more weary about getting on his mum's bad side.
He said: "I think he is a bit more worried now because she can subject him to military discipline as well as domestic discipline."
Daily Express
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