Then and now: How the Army marks Christmas on the front line

British troops were promised they would be 'home by Christmas' when they went off to fight in the World War I,.

But as the war dragged on, soldiers were forced to mark the occasion on the front line, away from their families.

As this archive footage demonstrates, some were able to celebrate the occasion, even amidst the terrible suffering of the war.

In Afghanistan in 2010, the British army goes to great lengths to help the troops celebrate Christmas on the front line.

In the cookhouse and sorting office in Camp Bastion, Helmand, preparations are under way to look after Christmas meals and post respectively.

While in Camp Souter in Kabul, troops enjoy a simple quiz night.

Archive footage courtesy of British Pathe