A bungle by military posties has meant hundreds of letters for troops in Iraq have been sent to Belize instead... 6,000 miles in the wrong direction.
Soldiers facing daily bombardments at their base near Basra started complaining that mail was failing to get through.
Their families and girlfriends were also frustrated at not getting replies to heartfelt letters - called "blueys" by squaddies.
Officers investigated... and found an electronic sorting machine was diverting the post to a jungle training camp in Belize, Central America.
A military source said: "The guys were livid when they found out about the cock-up. Nothing had been getting through and people were beginning to worry about their loved ones back home.
"Letters can mean the difference between a unit having high or low morale - they are that important." The move comes after a Ministry of Defence survey found 72 per cent of Armed Forces personnel were suffering from low morale.
And earlier this year Prince Harry described the postal service as "pants" after a Christmas card from his father reached him in Afghanistan a month late.
The latest scandal was revealed in secret documents leaked to the Sunday Mirror by furious squaddies. They show how letters destined for 4,000 troops in Iraq with the postal address "Telic 12" - the name of operations there - went to Belize, which has the address "BFPO 12".
The electronic sorters simply picked up the number "12" and put the mail in the box for Belize. Postal workers are now double checking mail bags to ensure no more letters go astray.
BASRA, IRAQ
Where Is It? In the south of Iraq. It is the country's second-biggest city after the capital, Baghdad.
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Main Uk Base: Contingency Operating Base at airport.
Home To: 4,000 British troops training Iraqi police and the Iraqi Army and defending the camp.
Weather/TEMP: Dry, arid. Top temperature 140F (60C).
Threats: Mortar and rocket attacks, roadside bombs, small arms fire.
BELIZE JUNGLE
Where Is It? Belize is in Central America between Mexico and Guatemala. Used to be called British Honduras.
Main Uk Base: Airport camp, outside Belize City.
Home To: Up to 750 British troops doing intensive jungle training.
Weather/TEMP: Tropical, humid. Top temperature 95F (35C).
Threats: Very large spiders, poisonous snakes.
