Thousands line streets to mark return of brigade that lost 64 in Helmand

In biggest parade since start of Afghan conflict, Winchester pays tribute to 11 Light Brigade after costly six-month tour

By Caroline Davies, guardian.co.uk

Soldiers of 11 Light Brigade march through Winchester after returning from a six-month tour of Helmand province, Afghanistan. Photograph: Reuters

They fought with "immense courage", lost 64 of their comrades and witnessed yet more seriously injured.

Now they were home. And the city of Winchester turned out in its thousands to pay tribute to the men and women of 11 Light Brigade at a homecoming parade today, the biggest of its kind since the start of the Afghan conflict.

Amid flag-waving, cheers and some tears, 650 troops from the brigade's 12 regiments marched six abreast through the city's streets to mark the end of a six-month tour of Helmand which exacted a heavy toll.

This was no celebration, despite the applause. As the marching bands played, and two RAF Tornado jets performed a flypast, the thoughts of the watching crowd were with those who were not there.

"Each soldier that passed, I thought about those who had been killed and were unable to be here," said Rita Herbert, 78, a retired clerical officer who travelled from Southampton to pay her respects.

In a tribute to all of the 5,100 troops from the Aldershot-based brigade who saw action in central Helmand, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, told those assembled before Winchester's Guildhall they were heroes.

"Through all the adversity you have fought on with immense courage, displaying the highest level of dedication, loyalty and professionalism as you have gone about bringing stability and security to this troubled region," she said.

"You are all heroes and I salute you all for a job very well done."

She added: "Although we are all here to celebrate your return the price has been extremely high. And I join you in mourning those 64 soldiers who are not here and who made the ultimate sacrifice during these past months.

"My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to their families as they continue to come to terms with their agonising loss."

There had been "a devastating number of serious casualties," as well, she said. Six of those on parade bore testament to that, with two of them in wheelchairs and the others on crutches having lost limbs.

She was humbled and proud to be standing in front of them all.

"You are an immense credit to your regiments, the brigade and to this country and you have proved once again that the British army is the best in the world".

As they stood in the blazing sun, the occasion proved too much for three of the soldiers as they collapsed in the heat.

The brigade was set up for a single tour of duty in Helmand from October to April and today's parade was its final act before disbanding.

It was, according to the mayor of Winchester, Richard Izard, "an important and unique event, especially as the 300th soldier to die comes from just up the road in Petersfield".

Among those the duchess met, during a private reception, were the families of two soldiers who died, and whose families were presented with the Elizabeth Cross, given to the bereaved.

But the abiding sense was not one of loss, rather one of success, for a job well done.

The brigade saw heavy fighting and took part in Operation Moshtarak, a major offensive against the Taliban. "Helmand is the most violent part of Afghanistan," said Brigadier James Cowan, Commander of 11 Light Brigade.

"Three of the four most violent districts in all of Afghanistan are in British Helmand. So it is a challenging area but one that I think we brought a measure of peace to."

Lance Sergeant Darren Shaw, whose daughter was two weeks old when he left for Afghanistan, said the parade would bring closure to the Afghan tour "then we can get ready and move on to what our next tasks are".

Those gathered six deep to watch them were there out of pride and respect. For Luke Ottley, 25, a car valet from Winchester, the youth of many of those on parade was most poignant. "I came here out of respect, because I don't think they get enough respect," he said. "So many of them are younger than me, and to think what they have been through.

"I think they should have had all the schools here. They're showing the football in some of the schools, I've heard. But this is much more important. Young people don't even know what Poppy Day is all about."

The soldiers themselves were overwhelmed by the support.

"I was a bit concerned that some people would not turn out because of the football, but Winchester is doing us proud," said Sergeant Craig Newton, 33, of the Coldstream Guards. "The football comes around every four years, but a day like today is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

A private service of thanksgiving and remembrance in Winchester Cathedral took place after the parade.

VIDEO: Soldiers Parade After Deadly Afghan Tour

Hundreds of troops parade through Winchester as part of a remembrance service for the 11 Light Brigade, which recently returned from duty in Afghanistan after losing 64 soldiers during its six-month tour. See the march with views from the Sky Copter.

UK Afghanistan Operational Allowance to double

During his recent visit to Afghanistan, Prime Minister David Cameron announced the doubling of the Operational Allowance (OA).


Mr Cameron announced that the tax-free allowance will increase from £14.51 per day to £29.02 and payments will be backdated to 6 May 2010.

Therefore, from 6 May 2010, Service personnel will receive £5,280.88 tax-free for a 182-day (six-month) tour in an appropriate operational area.

Payment is in the form of a single lump sum paid on completion of operational service. The first payments at the new rate will be made in July.

Service personnel who have earned or will earn OA during the period 6 May to 30 June 2010 will be paid in the June 2010 pay run at the old rate of £14.51. A compensating payment, taking the rate increase into account, will be activated manually and, wherever possible, will be paid in the July 2010 pay run.

British soldiers make their way through a dust storm shortly after their arrival in Afghanistan

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said:

"I am delighted that we have doubled the Operational Allowance for those of our troops who are engaged in the very highest areas of conflict.

"In doing so we have fulfilled a key commitment set out in our coalition programme for government."

The Operational Allowance is paid to Service personnel engaged in the most demanding of conflicts and who are deployed on agreed operations: Op HERRICK (Afghanistan), Op TELIC (Iraq), and Combined Task Force Iraqi Maritime (naval operations in the Gulf).

Pictures: Sergeant Ian Forsyth

1st Battalion The Royal Welsh back from Afghanistan

Over 120 soldiers of 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh returned home from Afghanistan to Chester, for an emotional reunion with family and friends.

Elements of D and A Companies arrived at Dale Barracks yesterday, with the entire battalion of over 500 men scheduled to be back in the UK by the end of the week.

The battle group deployed in mid-December 2009 as an aviation assault battle group.

For the first six weeks the battle group conducted aviation assault operations into the insurgent-held areas of northern Nad 'Ali district, known locally as Area 31.

These operations, which lasted from 12 to 72 hours, were known as shaping operations as they allowed the soldiers to talk to the local nationals and degrade the insurgents' capability in the area the battle group would later secure during Operation MOSHTARAK.

These operations often found the soldiers in prolonged engagements with insurgent groupings.

The rest of the tour found the Royal Welsh Battle Group reconfigured as Combined Force 31 (CF31), which was composed of an Afghan National Army (ANA) Kandak from Kabul and their French mentors, an Afghan National Police (ANP) Kandak, the Afghan Task Force, an Estonian Company and the Brigade Reconnaissance Force.

In total CF31 had 1600 troops, 1200 of which would provide the aviation assault force for Op MOSHTARAK. The CF31 were one of the key UK units assigned to the operation.

Operation MOSHTARAK
During the first week of the operation members of A Coy made the biggest IED find in UK history in Afghanistan. Another major find was made a few weeks later by B Coy who found component parts capable of making IEDs.

During the first six weeks numerous shuras were conducted between CF 31, with Afghan Government (GIRoA) officials, and local elders. This allowed the local communities to voice their concerns and GIRoA and CF31 to address them. To protect the newly liberated population centres, 24 security base locations were constructed and manned by a mixture of ANA, ANP and ISAF troops.

The Royal Welsh developed an effective embedded partnering relationship, working alongside their Afghan counterparts to maintain security and allow the locals freedom of movement to go about their daily lives.

'A very positive tour'
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Lock, Commanding Officer 1 R WELSH, was among the soldiers returning. He said: “It has been a very positive tour. We have been heavily involved in Operation Moshtarak, which has been the key operation so far this year in southern Afghanistan.

"The aim of the operation was to clear the central belt of Helmand Province of overt Taliban and we conducted a large aviation assault operation – the largest since the first Gulf War – with a 1,200-man force of 1 R WELSH, an Afghan National Army battalion, an Estonian company and other force elements.

"It was a large and very successful operation, with lots of planning involved. We seized all our objectives by midday on the first day and then proceeded to provide security in the area.

“We have been working very hard, so to get back to Chester and see our families has been absolutely fantastic, but clearly tinged with sadness at the loss of Fusilier Jonathan Burgess. Our thoughts are with his family and also our soldiers who have been injured, as well as their families.”

Coldstream Guards return from Helmand

Lance Sergeant James Clough smiles happily as his sons, Jordan-Lee, 8 and David-James, 10, try on their dads kit for size.

Friends and family were on hand to welcome home 120 soldiers from No. 1 Company, 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards as they arrived at their Aldershot barracks this afternoon after a 6 month operational tour of Afghanistan.

Luke, 3, greets his daddy, Sergeant Damien Holland

No. 1 Company saw some of the fiercest action during their time in Afghanistan, and have been working jointly with Afghan forces on operations throughout their six-month tour of duty.

Homecoming with a difference for soldiers as UK flights resume

Troops returning from Afghanistan have arrived back in the UK following a six-month operational tour. It was a homecoming with a difference as flight restrictions meant the soldiers had to come back via the sea.

The 450 soldiers included elements from 33 Field Hospital and sections from the HERRICK 11 Battle Groups.

Sgt Adrian Wendrich, 31, a Multiple Commander with D Coy 1 R WELSH, was based in Nad e-Ali before deploying as part of Op MOSHTARAK with an ANA platoon.

“We achieved a lot working with the ANA," he said. "It was the first time we had patrolled with them like that, and it was critical we had them with us as they could integrate with the local community in a way that we couldn’t because of language barriers. So we did achieve a lot.

“The biggest threat since our last tour has been IEDs. But our Battalion found around 270 – which is a really good result in saving lives.”

Travelling home with the Infantry soldiers were 110 medics from 254 and 253 Med Regt. The medics had been deployed in more than 70 locations around the Infantry Patrol Bases.

“It’s been a tough tour,” confirmed Capt Craig Fulton, 31, RAMC. “But the guys have achieved a hell of a lot supporting the Battle Group, and the Infantry have really appreciated what we do. It’s been hard on them, but it’s definitely something the guys can be proud of."

The medics made their way back to Preston last night to join the rest of their Regiment for their medal parade through Preston this morning.

Army Website

Volcanic ash delays 1 Scots soldiers' homecoming

BBC reporter

A company of soldiers serving in Afghanistan have finally returned by coach after their journey home was held up by the volcanic ash flight ban.

More than 100 soldiers were due to arrive at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, on Friday after a six-month tour of duty, but were unable to fly to the UK.

The members of B Company, 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, or 1 Scots, had to wait in Cyprus.

They then flew to France and travelled the last leg by coach and ferry.

Maj Graeme Wearmouth said: "To be perfectly honest it went immensely smoothly and I have to say that, after the last seven months, if that is what it took to get home it wasn't an issue at all for us.

'Kept smiling'

"We have got to remember there are still troops out there waiting in the bottleneck to get here so in many ways we are the lucky ones.

"I think it was initially disbelief that it was a volcano that had done it - if you had asked me of all the reasons I could have come up with many, but this came out of left field."

He added: "We were on a one-way trip home so the boys kept smiling throughout.

"The sense of humour that has sustained them through the whole six, nearly seven, months of campaigning in Afghanistan saw them through what is frankly a mini-adventure at the end of a very tough and serious one."

The company has spent the past six months in Helmand province as part of the 3 Rifles Battlegroup.

"There has been highs and lows. There is no doubt that Afghanistan is an immensely challenging place to operate in but we can see, in even our short time there, progress," Maj Wearmouth said.

"We have left, without a doubt, a better place than we found. We have started to see the smiles come back on the faces of some of the Afghans we have operated with and we have started to make friends out there."

2 YORKS begin deployment to Afghanistan

Around 400 soldiers from 2 YORKS are starting their deployment to Afghanistan. The troops were waved off by loved at left Weeton Barracks in Lancashire and will soon be working side by side Afghan national Soldiers as they train them to take on their own security.

"Working hand-in-glove with the Afghan National Army provided a great opportunity to both develop and learn from the Afghan soldiers,” said Major Robert Palfrey, Officer Commanding A Company.

“They are highly motivated, capable and experienced fighters. This task is widely recognised as some of the most important and rewarding work being done in theatre at the moment."

For 2 YORKS this is the second tour of duty in Helmand and many of them will be veterans of Op Herrick 7 which started in October 2007.

Once in Afghanistan the troops will form part of 11 Light Brigade, which replaces 19 Light Brigade this October.

They will take on the role of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team. The purpose of the team is to develop the capabilities and maximise the effectiveness of the Afghan National Army.

The long term aim of this important mission is to enable the Afghan National Army to become self-sufficient, independently capable of training its soldiers and mounting operations.

The nature of the role in theatre will see the battalion operate in small teams, utilising a wide range of military and instructional skills to further develop their Afghan colleagues' capabilities.

"After a thorough period of intensive training, during which everyone concerned worked extremely hard, the battalion is well prepared for this demanding role,” said Lieutenant Colonel David Colthup, Commanding Officer 2 YORKS.

“Over the past month the battalion has had the opportunity to take some hard-earned leave to relax with their families. They are now fully focused on the task to hand and are highly motivated and very much looking forward to the tour."