This is the touching moment a returning female British soldier is reunited with her toddler son following a six month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Corporal Phillipa Noble – still in desert fatigues and tanned from the Afghan sun – fought back tears of joy as she gathered two-year-old Alfie in her arms.
Blonde Alfie ran to his mum and laughed as 26-year-old Phillipa swept him off his feet.
Cpl Noble was one of over 200 members of the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery who returned home to Tidworth Barracks, Wilts., following a gruelling tour in Helmand.
To the cheers of Union flag-waving bystanders, the brave soldiers stepped off Army coaches – straight into the waiting arms of wives, partners and children.
Also among those returning was Gunner Darryl Ellis, who held hands as he was reunited with his two-year-old younger brother Oliver Bowman.
The regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jez Bennett, played a key role in Operation Moshterak – a major offensive to drive the Taliban out of Helmand.
It was the lead unit for the Joint Fires and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Group, which trains Afghan soldiers in Helmand.
Soldiers helped train and mentor Afghan National Army officers in weapons handling and tactics.
Members of B Battery were involved in setting up the interim Helmand Police Training Centre in Lashkar Gah and two months later watched the first batch of troops in their graduation ceremony.