A MIDDLETON St George soldier serving with the Desert Rats is the third generation to wear the famous red jerboa badge of the 7th Armoured Brigade.

Cpl Richard Latter, 25, was a pupil at the village primary school and Hurworth Comprehensive. He is part of British forces in the Gulf, serving as a REME technician.

His father, Mike, who teaches at Hurworth House School, was a staff officer with the same brigade in Germany during and after the Cold War.

His grandfather, Ray, was a tank driver during the North African campaign in the Second World War, including the battle of El Alamein.

Mr Latter said: "Richard joined the TA in Newton Aycliffe and went from there into the regular army as a teenager.

"He left the army in September after service in Cyprus, the Falklands, Germany and Kosovo and was in his first year of a degree course when he was called up three weeks ago.

"He went to school in the Falklands, while I was there working for the Government between 1988 and 1991. I was commanding officer of the defence force, the only non-islander to do that."

Mr Latter served with the 7th Brigade for about 12 years and was a major in the TA, commanding at Durham and Bishop Auckland. He had to retire about a month ago because of his age.