3Mercians march through Stafford after Afghanistan tour

Loud cheers and enthusiastic applause greeted the soldiers from the 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment – formerly the Staffords.

They were parading through Stafford ahead of visiting Wolverhampton this afternoon.

Paul Horbin, a 67 year old retired engineer from Stafford spoke for many when he said: "After where they have been and what they have done, the least we can do is to give up a bit of our time to show our support.

"It is important that they know they have the backing of the public."

This was the second tour in three years on the frontline in trouble torn Helmand Province and it claimed the life of Sergeant Major Ian Fisher who was killed by a suicide bomber.

Today's coming home parade was the first of several to be held throughout the region this week.

They are particularly poignant because the Battalion will cease to exist after the last of these, in Lichfield on Saturday, when it merges with two other battalions of the Mercian Regiment as part of plans to reduce the strength of the regular army by 20,000.

The troops were led by the band of the Royal Logistics Corps and salute was taken by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Colonel Michael Beatty.

Major Neil Kelly, Commander of 3Mercian's A Company with whom Sergeant Major Fisher served, said: "His death was a tremendous loss to the company, the battalion and the army as a whole.

"But we still had a job to do and, with immense fortitude, we completed it with the professionalism and in the way, he would have wanted us to."

Major Kelly continued: "We had a tremendous amount of support from those back home throughout the tour and the reception we received typified that."

The start of the parade was delayed for 15 minutes while a suspicious parked vehicle was checked and found to be harmless.

Natalie Williams, 26, from Stafford, whose boyfriend Lance Corporal Harry Barr, 22, was among the soldiers on parade, said: "I felt really proud for him. It was really exciting."

Private Gavin Davies, 25, from Stafford, who was watched by proud mom Rita, welder father Bill, brother James, 18, and 22 year old partner Sammy Field, said: "It was a good feeling to march through the town knowing that my family were watching.

"It'll be sad to split-up with the lads with whom I served in Afghanistan because of the comradeship which is built up on a tour like that.

"But the changes in the army are just part of the job and we just have to get on with it."

Stafford Mayor Councillor Ray Sutherland said: "It was a tremendous turn-out, especially on a Monday morning when many people are at work.

"It shows how proud the people of this town are of our troops and how sad we are to be losing 3Mercian."