Oxford Army dad surprises daughter after two-year deployment

A father serving in the British Army has surprised his six-year-old daughter after two years on deployment.

Ella has only seen her father, Ed, for short breaks while he has been serving abroad, so her mother, Vanessa, nominated her for a resilience award.

Little Troopers charity organised for Ella, from Oxfordshire, to be presented with a medal during a school assembly.

"Sometimes I feel calm when he comes home and sometimes I'm so, so excited, I'm all trembly," Ella said.

"I just really love it because then I can spend more time with him."

Ella said she was looking forward to spending Christmas with her father in Canada - his next deployment

Little Troopers was set up to support children with parents serving in the Armed Forces.

Vanessa, from Longcot, said she contacted the organisation to nominate her daughter to be Little Trooper of the Month because of how well she had handled the separation from her father, who has been serving in Iraq.

Ella, who has lived in four different countries and six different houses due to her father's job, said: "Sometimes it can be stressful moving but most of the time it's a bit calm."

His most recent deployment has meant Ella has only seen him for short trips home since Christmas 2021.

Ella said she was excited to be spending this Christmas with her father in Canada, where he will be deployed for three years.

"I don't know if I believe it - when I think about it I get all in my head and topsy-turvy with excitement," she said.

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