Homecoming parades for Midlands soldiers
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment are to celebrate their return from Afghanistan with a week of homecoming events.
A series of parades are being held - with a thanksgiving and memorial service at Lichfield Cathedral on Monday 28th November.
At the forefront of everyone's thoughts during these events will be Private Gareth Bellingham from Staffordshire. He is the only fatality suffered by the Battalion during the tour and was killed in action on June 18th in Helmand Province, at the age of 22.
Assistant Regimental Secretary Major (retired) Jim Massey said:
'The families throughout the Midlands and across the Mercian Regiment recruiting area will be celebrating the safe return of the soldiers. Mercian soldiers have made a real difference to security in Helmand and Afghanistan as a whole during the tour, training the Afghan National Army, Providing security to various parts of Helmand and supporting ordinary Afghans as they try to live their lives.'
As well as an event at Lichfield Cathedral on Monday 28th November there are also parades in Tamworth, Burton, Wolverhampton and Walsall during the week:
Stoke-on-Trent Saturday 26th November
Stafford Sunday 27th November
Lichfield Monday 28th November
Tamworth Tuesday 29th November
Burton-upon-Trent Tuesday 29th November
Wolverhampton Wednesday 30th November
Walsall Thursday 1st December