Reading Chronicle | News | TA war heroes due home

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Friday, 21st March, 2008 09:00

TA war heroes due home

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OUR soldier heroes will receive a right Royal welcome when they arrive back in Reading next week.

The 130 Territorial Army soldiers from Salonika Company of 7 Rifles have spent the last six months involved in the forefront of the action in the bandit country of southern Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.

And when they arrive back at Brock Barracks in west Reading on Wednesday [2] the welcoming party will be headed by the Duchess of Gloucester, who is Colonel in Chief of the Rifles Regiment.

Their families and loved ones will watch proudly as the Duchess presents the troops with their operational campaign medals in recognition of the distinguished manner in which they have carried out their duties in Helmand.

Army spokesman Chris Fletcher said: “Many of the soldiers’ families and friends are expected to attend the homecoming on what will be an emotionally charged occasion.

“These Territorial soldiers have seen heavy action in the front line fighting against enemy forces. Many were involved in the crucially strategic offensive to re-take the town of Musa Qaleh, the former Taliban stronghold.”

Salonika Company has been operating in temperatures as low as 10 degrees Celsius and running the gauntlet of mines and homemade roadside explosive devices in the campaign to defeat the Taliban.

At the same time they have been building bridges with the local population in a bid to win the battle of hearts and minds.

The Chronicle has been carrying regular dispatches from Salonika Company’s unit press officer Lieutenant Jon Dolphin, always dramatic, sometimes humorous and often emotional, and our reporters and photographers will be at Brock Barracks for the homecoming next week.

After arriving at Brock Barracks, Salonika Company will form up on the parade square in front of civic dignitaries, senior officers and invited guests and the soldiers will each be presented with the Afghanistan campaign decoration, known as the the Herrick Medal.

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