Soldiers recently returned from Afghanistan will be enjoying Cornish ale at their Christmas party this year thanks to a gift of 6,000 bottles from St Austell Brewery. 

The Brewery showed its support for the troops by delivering eight pallets of beer - made up of the South West’s favourite Tribute and Smugglers Ale - to the Chepstow Army base of the 1st Battalion the Rifles. 

The delivery was made by the Brewery in support of the national ‘Beer for the Boys’ campaign. 

The 1st Battalion the Rifles, which has recently returned from Afghanistan, recruits extensively from the South West and sadly had eight Riflemen killed in action during the six month deployment. 

Jeremy Mitchell, Director of Marketing and Communications, St Austell Brewery, said: “We were delighted to be able to contribute to the Beer for the Boys campaign and deliver a selection of St Austell Brewery ales in time for their Christmas party. It’s a small token gesture from us in appreciation for the incredibly hard work they do on behalf of the country. As many of the soilders in the 1st Battalion the Rifles come from the South West, we thought a delivery of the South West’s favourite beer would be a welcome treat.” 

Major Heys, of the 1st Battalion the Rifles, said: “Our thanks go to St Austell Brewery for this generous donation and to all those who have supported the Beer for the Boys campaign.” 

The ‘Beer for the Boys’ campaign was started in 2007 by Royal Air Force Wing Commander Steve Chadwick. Its main aim is to provide a free can of beer to servicemen and women flying home from Afghanistan on RAF TriStar aircraft, which are operated by 216 Squadron, based at RAF Brize Norton. 

For further details, including how to donate, please visit www.216squadron.com (the Beer for the Boys website), text ‘Beer’ to 88886 or call Wing Commander Chadwick or Flight Lieutenant Paul Tolley on 01993 897393.  Cheques made payable to ‘Service Funds RAF Brize Norton’ and marked ‘Beer for the Boys’ on the back can be sent to Beer for the Boys, 216 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton, Carterton, Oxon, OX18 3LX.