A soldier serving with the British Army in Basra has ‘married’ his girlfriend – despite the pair being thousands of miles apart.

And next week Lance Bombadier Joseph Lomotey will see his wife for the first time.

The bizarre wedding ceremony took place in a tent in the Iraqi desert, where LBdr Lomotey, from Ghana, is serving with the Wiltshire-based 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.

His comrades stunned him with the surprise service – made possible by Ghanaian law which allows couples to be apart on their wedding day if it is “physically impossible” for either to attend.

His girlfriend, 21-year-old Josephine Aggrey, who knew about the ruse, attended a traditional ceremony in Ghana.

A vicar officiated and she took her vows in the ‘normal’ way, with LBdr Lomotey’s brother standing in for him and placing the wedding ring on her finger.

And at exactly the same time, the lads of 1RHA gathered in Basra – with a pile of bricks wearing a bikini as a makeshift Josephine – and held their own service.

Sergeant Andy Hadrick, LBdr Lomotey’s immediate boss, conducted the ceremony “complete with a dog collar and a grin”.

He had earlier told the groom-to-be that he was in trouble for having a dirty rifle and ordered him to go off and clean it, in order for his colleagues to turn the tent into a church complete with an aisle and the ‘bride’.

After a nervous, and bemused, wait at the altar, a picture of LBdr Lomotey’s girlfriend was walked down the aisle and placed on the bricks while the rest of the guests hummed Here Comes The Bride.

Sgt Hadrick led a full service including hymns, exchanging vows and kissing the ‘bride’.

LBdr Lomotey said: “I was very surprised – and honoured – that the lads would do such a thing for me.

“I fully appreciate the time and effort needed to make this type of thing happen and was glad the troop could share one of the happiest days of my life.

“Even though it wasn’t ‘real,’ it was very emotional for me.”

Josephine said she was “very happy” with the service the soldiers and officers put together for her new husband.

The regiment has been on operational tour in Iraq for the past six months and is due home in time for Christmas.

Its commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Simon Humphrey said: “I’m not sure if this is a first for the British Army, but it certainly is a great example of soldiers pulling together and looking after each other in adverse conditions.”

Via news.sky.com