Worthing teenager in the front line

The 18-year-old from Goring is one of the youngest frontline fighters in the Gulf and the last his family heard he was involved in securing Basra airport for use by American and British troops.

His mum, Lynne Davies, pictured left with Carl's brother Simon, said from her home in The Avenue, Goring, on Tuesday: "The hardest thing is not knowing."

There has been no contact since last week.

Carl, a former pupil of Chatsmore Catholic High School, joined the Army when he was 16. He followed in his grandfather Neil Christian's steps by enlisting in the Royal Engineers, the corps Mr Christian, also from Goring, served with for 22 years.

Carl was also a member of Worthing's Army Cadet Force and was sent to the Gulf a month ago with 53 Squadron of the Royal Engineers.

When Carl passed out of Army training last January, the talk was of him going to Afghanistan but he knew he wouldn't be sent into combat until he was 18.

Mr Christian said: "One thing combat does is bring everyone closer together because you're looking out for each other. This will be a defining moment in Carl's life. The Army has made a big difference and turned him from a boy into a young man. This will mature him."

Carl's dad Alan served in the RAF for 22 years. From 1996 to 1999, Carl lived in Cyprus with his mum and younger brother Simon, who is now 11.

"He's always been in the service life," said Mrs Davies. "Even as a kid he always played with soldiers.

"When we found out he was going to the Gulf it was awful for me. I didn't want him to go to war but for him it was going abroad with his regiment."