Posted on 12/11/2007 10:12:02 AM PST by UKrepublican
Our boys welcomed home
THOUSANDS of people lined the streets of two cities today to welcome home soldiers from Iraq.
The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh were given a heroes reception as they paraded through the centre of Cardiff after returning from the gruelling Operation Telic 10, their third tour of Iraq in four years.
And soldiers from 4th Battalion The Rifles marched through the centre of Salisbury following their recent return from a six-month tour in Iraq.
While based at Basra Palace prior to the handover to local control at the start of September, 4 Rifles saw some of the fiercest urban combat of the Iraq conflict.
In Cardiff, three members of the battalion who were killed in action; corporal Paul Joszko, lance corporal Ryan Francis and private Craig Barber were remembered.
Privates Jamie Kerr and Scott Kennedy, two soldiers from the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, who were attached to the Royal Welsh during the tour, were also honoured after they too lost their lives.
The parade finished at the Millennium Stadium where more than 3,000 people had gathered to pay respects to the fallen men and show gratitude to those who made it back safely.
The chief of the general staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, was meant to address the troops but he pulled out due to illness.
In his place, the adjutant-general, Lt Gen Freddie Viggers, said there was a golden thread linking the 2nd battalion of the Royal Welsh and the soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot who won seven Victoria Crosses when they repelled the Zulu warriors at Rorkes Drift in 1879.
Lt Gen Viggers praised the courage, grit and downright stubbornness of the battalions soldiers in imposing their will on the enemy, particularly during the first three months of the tour before they were repositioned from Basra Palace to the citys air station.
He also promised the families of the fallen men that the Army would stand by them.
The regiments commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel James Swift, said: It has been an honour and privilege to command such men and women on such a demanding operation.
I could not have asked for a better team or such selfless commitment.
Thank you, you are all truly Welsh warriors.
The Morriston Orpheus male voice choir sang several hymns including Amazing Grace and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer during the emotional service.
You can watch a video of the parade here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7130000/newsid_7138600/7138650.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1
More pictures!
I want to see your boys too!
To all the supporters of freedom and the soldiers of the UK, thank you friends!
Welcome home, boys...well done!
God Bless them all and those Brits who support them.
Amen.
Welcome Home Soldiers and Thank You.
Excellent! Welcome home boys and God bless you.
Give them all a kiss for me!
I hope they get a hero’s welcome.
They deserve it.
This is great to see.
I wonder where all the “Brits are cutting and running” Freepers are?
They cut and run.
Very good!!
Thank you, heroes, for helping make our world a better place! You guys ROCK!
God bless our American, Australian and British military people!
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