The touching moment a six-year-old girl beams up at her army sergeant father as they share a loving embrace is one of 15 adorable photos in a new charity calendar.
Lucy Smith, now nine, can been seen on the airfield at Royal Air Force Akrotiri, in Cyprus, smiling proudly at her father Staff Sgt Martin Smith, 40, after months apart while he served in Iraq.
The emotional reunion is just one of 15 photos chosen from hundreds submitted to charity Little Troopers for their annual charity calendar.
Beaming: Lucy Smith smiles proudly at her father army Staff Sgt Martin Smith, 40, at Royal Air Force Akrotiri, after months apart
Adorable: Lucas Mcwhirter catches 40 winks on top of his mother and father’s hats. His mother Corporal Samantha Jones, 32, serves as a nurse with the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps while his father Lance Corporal of Horse John Mcwhirter, 32, serves with the Household Calvary
Welcome home: Eight-year-old Isabella Hallam shares a loving embrace with her mother Petty Officer Lindsey Hallam in the calendar’s August photo
Hug: Four-year-old Charlie Edwards smiles as he cuddles his father Sergeant Ashley Edwards, in the March photo for the calendar
Staff Sgt Smith – whose treasured snap will feature on the July page – said: ‘The picture holds so many happy memories for us all as a family.
‘We hope our joy of being reunited can he felt in those wonderful charity calendar.’
The heartwarming collection also includes Daniel Grimes, 12 days in his photo, who is almost dwarfed by the navy cap of his father Lieutenant Commander Keith Grimes, 33, as he takes a nap on a tiny bed.
His mother Helen, 32, said, ‘It’s lovely for our picture to be included in the calendar. The military community is a very supportive one, so to have this picture included in a product which will raise money for a charity supporting military children is fantastic.’
Another shows 11-year-old Isobel Little burying her head into army father Ken’s arms on his return from six months in Afghanistan.
The lance corporal, who serves with the 16 Air Assault Brigade, smiles down at younger daughter Olivia, eight, who is wearing an ‘I’m a little trooper’ t-shirt.
Smiles and salutes: Five-year-old Ruby Hartson stares up adoringly at her RAF corporal father, James Hartson and right, Lily Discombe, six, salutes in her stepfather Aaron Canwell’s Navy white cap
Sleepy: Daniel Grimes, aged just 12 days old in the photo, is almost dwarfed by the cap of his father navy Lieutenant Commander Keith Grimes, 33, as he takes a nap on a tiny bed
Smiling sisters: Romeo Cotton, 14 months in the photo, puts on a pair of protective ear muffs as he waits for his father Luke Cotton, 28, an Avionics Aircraft Technician with the RAF. Right, 11-year-old Isobel Little and her sister Olivia, eight, welcome home their Lance Corporal father Ken Little
Mother Natasha, 31, from Colchester, said: ‘The photo is so special. We had waited six whole months to see him.
‘The girls are so excited that they will be on the wall every day during May.’
Little Lily Discombe, six, can be seen grinning and saluting in her stepfather Aaron Canwell’s Navy white cap.
The youngster, from Portsmouth, posed when the weapons engineer returned home on HMS Queen Elizabeth after a year in Scotland.
Poppies: Harper Mack, three, and Lyle Mack, two, pay their respects at the West Park War Memorial in South Shields. Their father Sergeant Kevin Mack is serving with the DEMS Training Regiment, Southam Warwickshire
Painting for dad: Leo Niblett, four in the photo, makes a banner for his father RAF Senior Aircraftman Steven Niblett, 28, who is currently based in Cyprus
Farewell: Kodi Black, aged three, waves goodbye to HMS Duncan, where his father Leading Hand Grant Black, 26, was serving
January’s page is dedicated to a touching photo of Heidi Curry, eight, from Mickleover, Derbsyshire, holding a placard which said ‘We’ve waited 87 days for your hugs.’
It was taken while she waited for Navy warrant officer Paul, 40, to return from his final deployment after 22 years service.
The calendar has been created by Little Troopers – a charity which supports service families.
Founder Louise Fetigan said: ‘The pictures show many of the emotions experienced by a military family and some very cute babies showing their pride for their mum or dad’s work.
‘We are lucky to share some very special moments with our beneficiary families through these images. It is a great privilege.’