Major Darrell Thomas, 54, has been in Worthing for the past nine years, and has admitted he heard the news of his new appointment with some trepidation.

For he and his wife Katrina are off to Myanmar, formally known as Burma, in July.

Darrell will be regional officer for the Army in Myanmar, and Katrina will be regional director of women's ministries there.

Confirmation of the three-year appointments came in the form of official "Marching Orders".

He said: "We have served as officers for 32 years in this country and we stated that we were prepared to serve abroad.

"When we were telephoned and asked whether we were still prepared to go abroad, we immediately thought of somewhere in Europe.

"It came as quite a shock when we learned our appointments were in South East Asia."

They are now trying to learn the odd word of the native language, but there are many English-speaking Army personnel and interpreters available to help.

Darrell and Katrina will be reporting to the territorial headquarters in Singapore for an initiation course before travelling on to Myanmar, where he will be in charge of 35 Salvation Army Corps, 15 outposts, plus children's homes, day centres, childrens' homes, HIV/Aids clinics, a farm and irrigation projects.

The country is ruled by a military junta but the Salvation Army is well thought of and does considerable practical work there.

Also on the move are the other two Worthing majors, Gareth and Susan Heward, who have served locally for three years.

He is off to divisional headquarters in Maidstone to become director of personnel, with Susan acting as support officer.

Arriving in August to take over in Worthing are Majors Peter and Iris Leech, from Norfolk divisional headquarters, supported by Major Carol Chadwick.

She is currently chaplain of a Salvation Army retirement home, Villa Adastra, in Hassocks.