Determined to do his duty

And his family today joined his call for people to support the troops in the Gulf.

Michael Fitzgerald, from Whitworth Road, was surprised to be called up at the age of 39.

And ironically he had been planning to retire from the TA this year to spend more time with his family.

His father Colin said: "He doesn't agree with this war and I don't agree with it either.

"He didn't see why we are getting involved in Iraq's problems - there are plenty of countries with tyrants in power and we have done nothing about them, like Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

"But he's taken the money from the TA over the years and he isn't grumbling about going.

"It is just ironic that this has come up at a time when he is thinking of leaving.

"About three years ago the TA wanted him to give up because they said he was too old.

"But they kept him on to train younger people."

Michael is a tool-maker at BMW in Swindon and has been in the territorials for 25 years.

He has a wife Samantha and two children Louis, 14, and Elaina, 12.

He flew out to Kuwait three weeks ago with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry nuclear and biological warfare unit where his role is to recover tanks that have broken down on the battlefield.

His father Colin said: "Last year he was thinking perhaps now would be a good time give up the TA and spend more time with his family ? they bought a caravan.

"He was absolutely amazed to get the call up because of his age.

"It's been upsetting for the family but everybody is trying to protect everybody else."

The family last heard from Michael in the form of a letter a week ago and he is now thought to be somewhere in southern Iraq

Mr Fitzgerald said: "It's almost a form of entertainment on television.

"But when you've got somebody out there it is very different."

Corporal Fitzgerald is one of 106 soldiers based at Swindon Territorial Army Centre to be called up to fight in Iraq.

They are attached to A Squadron of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and are working on the front line involved in nuclear and biological decontamination.

It is the first time since World War Two that the Yeomanry has been deployed for military action.

Like all allied soldiers their deployment is indefinite.