A 23-YEAR-OLD soldier, who signed up to the army only three years ago, was so keen to represent his country in the Gulf that he made a special request to go.

Only six months ago Private Shaun Cloudsdale, of the 12th Royal Artillery based in Germany, had a bunion operation. Since then he has been receiving treatment from a physiotherapist because of the pain.

He told his mum, Lesley, of Crosslands Close, Swarthmoor, only a few months ago that he

did not think he would be

called up for action in the Gulf because he was still considered unfit.

Mrs Cloudsdale said: "He was so desperate to go that he made a special request, so he only ended up going out there about three weeks before the war started. He might be regretting it now because I don't know what the pain will be like for him out there."

The last time Mr and Mrs Cloudsdale received an airmail letter from their son (pictured below), a former pupil at Pennington School and Ulverston Victoria High School, was last week when three arrived together. In his letters, he said he was taking care of the prisoners of war.

"He said he was on his way to Basra. It sounds like he is fol-lowing the troops into Basra and then he is responsible for mopping up," said Mrs Cloudsdale.

"He also said that he was desperate for toiletries. It is all right that our soldiers are taking aid into the country but it doesn't sound like they are getting anything. It will be really hard for Shaun because he was used to having three baths a day."

Mrs Cloudsdale said the family was coping by "keeping busy." She said it was worse for their two daughters Kera, 12, and Chantelle, 21. "Chantelle is pregnant so she keeps saying that she hopes he's alright because she wants him to be able to see the baby. Kera keeps asking if he is okay as well. I just try and not think about it all the time, because it would just drive you mad."

Mrs Cloudsdale forwards all her son's letters to his girlfriend in Canada, Levoir Jonelle. "The soldiers can only send them free to England so Shaun sends them to me and I forward them on," she said.

April 11, 2003 10:31