PrivateDerby Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 [size=4]Mercian regiment welcomed back from Afghanistan with Nottingham parade Hundreds of people have lined the streets in Nottingham to welcome back soldiers from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.[/size] [size=4]The Mercian Regiment's 2nd Battalion spent a six-month tour of duty in Helmand Province. The soldiers attended a service at St Mary's Church before marching to the city's Old Market Square at noon.[/size] [size=4]Two soldiers who were killed in action during the tour were remembered at the service.[/size] [size=4]Honour roll Capt Rupert Bowers, 24, from Rutland, died in a roadside bomb blast in March and Pte Matthew Haseldin, 21, from Settle in Yorkshire, died in an insurgent attack in November 2011. Capt Mike Brigham, of the Mercian Regiment, said the two men were mentioned in the Honour Roll.[/size] [size=3]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61117000/jpg/_61117867_mercian-composite[/size] [size=4]Capt Rupert Bowers and Pte Matthew Haseldin both died in Helmand Province[/size] [size=4]"Knowing that our friends and family will line the streets when we get home makes our job in Helmand a little easier," he said. "We were there to support the local Afghanistan security forces - and it was a very successful tour for the battalion. "It is a great honour to march through Nottingham city - last time we did there were hundreds of people to welcome us. It makes you feel like a rock star."[/size] [size=4]Several hundred soldiers from the regiment marched from the church to the city's Old Market Square and finished their parade at Nottingham Castle.[/size] [size=4]At noon on Tuesday the battalion will march through Derby in a parade from Back Sitwell Street to the Market Place.[/size] [size=4]The regiment was formed in 2007 when the Cheshire Regiment merged with the Staffordshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.[/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrivateDerby Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Well done lads, they're marching through Derby now... [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-18585934]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-18585934 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McRamFan Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 I popped into town this morning and saw the guys milling around, Greggs was doing good business! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggg Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Well done those men...... 'http://www.dcfcfans.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyram Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 An awesome set of lads and lasses. xx Respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrivateDerby Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 It's not looking good, this government is determined to dismantle our Armed Forces and Police Service. Now the 3rd Battalion of the Mercian Regiment (Staffords) has had it's marching orders and is one of 5 infantry battalions to be disbanded, destroying a 307 year old unit. [url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Staffords-battalion-scrapped-army-cutbacks/story-16481274-detail/story.html]http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Staffords-battalion-scrapped-army-cutbacks/story-16481274-detail/story.html This will hit Derbyshire and Staffordshire hard... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 In fairness you do have to say with our withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014-2015 coming up (which I disagree with) then it is obvious the government will hit army numbers. However the soldiers deserve a hero's welcome putting their lives on the line for freedom and democracy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrivateDerby Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 I know yeah, I just find it worrying that we're moving towards an Armed Forces made up of reserves. "We're all in this together" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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