Home from war to meet 10-day-old son

A squadron leader received an early Christmas present on his return from Afghanistan when he met the baby son born while he was fighting the Taliban.

Sq Ldr William Waugh, originally from Surrey, enjoyed his first hug with 10-day-old Harry, who was presented by wife Georgina, as he returned to barracks last night.

Sq Ldr Waugh, 35, is a member of Egypt, part of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, who all enjoyed emotional reunions with loved ones at Tidworth, Wiltshire.

The 88 homecoming men, of the Viking Armoured Vehicle Group, played a key role in Operation Panther's Claw against the Taliban. Three comrades were killed during the six-month tour and about 11 have been seriously injured.

Mrs Waugh, 36, said: "I've been writing every day on email and he's been phoning once every six or seven days. He was absolutely ecstatic when Harry was born - I was due to be induced the next morning. I got a call to him at Camp Bastion at about 4.30am their time. Someone got him out of bed. He could barely speak he was so excited We are going to have a quiet Christmas readjusting to being a family. Coming back from a war zone to being a family dad is quite hard." The couple have two other children Oliver, three, and Charlie, two.

Sq Ldr Waugh said: "It's wonderful. It's pretty amazing to see my son for the first time. I feel very emotional at the moment."