Friends and family gather to greet Royal Irish heroes

Saturday 9th April 2011, 11:59AM BST.

Clodagh Whitehouse, Dominic Whitehouse, and Orla Whitehouse.

The last remaining Shropshire-based soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment have returned home from their seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

More than 40 soldiers returned to barracks in Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, yesterday afternoon.

Dozens of family and friends gathered at the base for an emotional reunion with the troops, who had been deployed to Helmand Province.

But the homecoming was tinged with sadness because the regiment lost three soldiers on the tour – Ranger Aaron McCormick, 22, killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in November; Ranger David Dalzell, 20, killed in February, whose cause of death has not yet been confirmed, and Lance Corporal Stephen McKee, 27, killed by an IED last month.

More than 400 troops have now returned to the county base after leaving Helmand province, with more than 180 returning last Sunday.

Among the soldiers returning yesterday was Sergeant Christopher Kennedy, who was delighted to be reunited with his fiancée, Marilyn Jewitt, and their three-year-old daughter, Abigail, who had travelled five hours from Newcastle to come and meet him.

“It’s just great to be back. It’s been very emotional being away from my family for so long and I can’t wait to spend some time with them,” he said.

The regiment is now about to be honoured with two homecoming parades in the county.

On Monday, there will be a parade in Market Drayton and on the following day there will be a parade in Shrewsbury.

View more: Market Drayton news, Royal Irish Regiment news, Shrewsbury news.

1
Colin.D.

April 9, 2011 at 17:55

Welcome back you lads, and well done.
My thoughts are with the families of those who died.

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2
Ann Storey

April 11, 2011 at 12:50

Great Regiment and proud of you all well done boys will be thinking of the 3 who didnt make it and thoughts are with their families

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3
Mandy Newcombe

April 11, 2011 at 20:58

Welcome back all of you – we are so proud of you. Heartfelt sympathy to the families of the men who have not come back – you are all in our hearts.

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