Soldier gets back to business after helping flooding victims

Corporal Jonathan Hume, 30, from Peterlee, and a member of the Light Dragoons, was back in work after helping the country cope with Christmas flooding.

Jonathan and his fellow soldiers worked all hours of the day during December to help homeowners and businesses across Yorkshire.

Many of the soldiers, based at the Gaza Barracks in Catterick, were on holiday when the flooding hit.

They were called back into work and helped out with the flood relief in Halifax, Leeds, York and the towns of Shelby, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd.

The troops worked all hours “warning and informing” homeowners and businesses whose properties were threatened by the rising water.

They also helped put in flood defences, under the instruction of the Environment Agency, laying sandbags in key areas.

Around 200 troops are now being trained as gunners, working into the night to practice their shooting at Warcop Training Area in Cumbria.

Jonathan said: “The transition back to work has been nice and smooth.

“It just shows the versatility of the Light Dragoons.”

Most of the soldiers who are going through the three-week camp are drivers, being trained as gunners.

The course will train them in both infantryman skills – firing small arms – and mounted shooting from the back of vehicles.

The troops have been provided with more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition which they will go through over the course of the training package.