A GAINSBOROUGH soldier who is currently serving in Iraq has made a stop off at a town school. Staff Sgt John Hargreaves is currently half way through a six-month tour of the Middle Eastern country and this is the second time he has served there. During his rest period he visited Castle Hills Community Arts College to thank pupils who had sent out shoe boxed presents to serving soldiers for Christmas.
He is a member of the 204 Signal Squadron and when not at home or on the frontline is based in Osnabruck, Germany. Originally from Doncaster Staff Sgt Hargreaves returned to The Avenue school to meet the students who took the time to make-up and bring things in for the parcels. The 36-year-old said: “To see the look on some of my colleagues faces on Christmas Day when they received a parcel was enough for me.
“Some soldiers don’t get sent anything and it was heart-warming to see their faces when they open the boxes up. “We did also managed to celebrate Christmas out in Basra with a traditional turkey lunch and we pulled the odd cracker. “But spending Christmas away from home is difficult, but it’s my job at the end of the day.” The father-of two visited the school on Tuesday and gave the children a short talk during assembly and answer a few questions about being The Army.
During his 19-year career Staff Sgt Hargreaves has served in Ireland, Bosnia and Norway.