SERVING soldiers called in to a nursing home to thank residents who wrote them heartwarming letters and sent parcels when they were stationed far from home.

Soldiers of A (Yorkshire) Squadron from Yeomanry Barracks in York were humbled when they met the residents and staff at St John’s House, a residential care home in Kirk Hammerton, on their return from a six-month tour in Poland for Operation Cabrit.

Private Daniel Burnikell said: “With my mum working there, she mentioned the trip to the residents as an activity to get involved in and they thought it was a great idea.

“It was a privilege and very humbling to meet and chat with the residents - some are veterans from the Second World War - and listen to their stories.

“They kindly sent us parcels whilst we were away, which really brought a sense of home. They also wrote a letter, which was great as these days it’s not often we receive letters.”

On their return from Poland the soldiers wanted to visit the residents and say thank you for their kindness and also have the opportunity to meet some of them.

Trooper Stephen Dixon said: “We were in Poland for six months and you really miss the home comforts. Just simple things like biscuits, tea and toiletries make a huge difference.

“We are hugely grateful to the residents of St John’s House for taking the time to think of us, making the parcels up and writing us a letter, it brightened up my day.”

He said it was especially poignant to chat with a veteran, Corporal Cyril Dix, who served with the Royal Corps of Signals from 1939-1945. Most notably in 1942 he set out by train to Trowbridge in Wiltshire on his way to the Special Operation Training Battalion.

He was to become part of the Special Operations Executives involved in intercepting radio messages from German lines. This was a highly secretive and vital job that helped to change the course of the war.

Cpl Dix also recounted to the soldiers the story of his beautiful wife, how they met and that she was also a sergeant serving in the same unit. They went on to marry in 1947, two years after the end of the war.