Post by Frenchie on Jun 18, 2010 15:21:24 GMT 1
Thousands of well-wishers cheered, applauded and waved flags as soldiers from A Company, 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES), recently returned from a tough deployment to Afghanistan, marched through the streets of Dorchester this week.
Led by the Salamanca Band of The Rifles, 150 officers and soldiers in their desert combat uniforms marched from Poundbury Barracks to the town's War Memorial in bright sunshine, on Wednesday. They were addressed and inspected there by the Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Leslie Phillips.
Councillor Phillips said the town was extremely proud of what the soldiers had achieved:
"I offer the warmest greetings to the officers and Riflemen of A Company, 4 RIFLES, whose return to this country after a hugely demanding tour of duty we are here to celebrate today.
"You have earned yourselves a reputation second to none and I am immensely proud that Dorchester is one of a number of towns in your Supporters Club which has followed your progress with interest."
The Riflemen, led by their Company Commander, Major Richard Streatfeild, returned to their barracks in Bulford on Salisbury Plain at the end of April after a successful but extremely intense and sometimes tragic six-month deployment in Afghanistan.
Based in the Sangin district of northern Helmand, the soldiers were located predominantly in Forward Operating Base (FOB) Inkerman and the surrounding recently-built Patrol Bases with the task of extending the area of security and stability around the population centres.
Five members of A Company were killed during the tour. They were: Lance Corporal Tom Keogh, aged 24 who died on 7 March 2010; Rifleman Carlo Apolis, 28, on 1 March 2010; Rifleman Martin Kingett, 19, on 25 February 2010; Rifleman Peter Aldridge, 19, on 22 January 2010; and Rifleman Samuel Bassett, 20, on 8 November 2009.
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Led by the Salamanca Band of The Rifles, 150 officers and soldiers in their desert combat uniforms marched from Poundbury Barracks to the town's War Memorial in bright sunshine, on Wednesday. They were addressed and inspected there by the Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Leslie Phillips.
Councillor Phillips said the town was extremely proud of what the soldiers had achieved:
"I offer the warmest greetings to the officers and Riflemen of A Company, 4 RIFLES, whose return to this country after a hugely demanding tour of duty we are here to celebrate today.
"You have earned yourselves a reputation second to none and I am immensely proud that Dorchester is one of a number of towns in your Supporters Club which has followed your progress with interest."
The Riflemen, led by their Company Commander, Major Richard Streatfeild, returned to their barracks in Bulford on Salisbury Plain at the end of April after a successful but extremely intense and sometimes tragic six-month deployment in Afghanistan.
Based in the Sangin district of northern Helmand, the soldiers were located predominantly in Forward Operating Base (FOB) Inkerman and the surrounding recently-built Patrol Bases with the task of extending the area of security and stability around the population centres.
Five members of A Company were killed during the tour. They were: Lance Corporal Tom Keogh, aged 24 who died on 7 March 2010; Rifleman Carlo Apolis, 28, on 1 March 2010; Rifleman Martin Kingett, 19, on 25 February 2010; Rifleman Peter Aldridge, 19, on 22 January 2010; and Rifleman Samuel Bassett, 20, on 8 November 2009.
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