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Prince Edward joined the grieving families of eight young soldiers killed in Afghanistan's bloodiest 24 hours as their loved ones were returned to them today.
The soldiers' bodies were flown the 3,600 miles home in a giant C17 to RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire.
It flew over the heads of the families standing on the tarmac, circled once and then touched down. The prince was at the base to pay his own respects.
With the last post playing, each flag-draped coffin was carried from the aircraft by six bearers and placed in individual hearses. A private service for the families was held in the chapel of rest of the airbase.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the Earl of Wessex, who is the Royal Colonel of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, “wanted to pay his respects to those soldiers who sadly died”.
Crowds gathered along the streets of Wootton Bassett, the little Wiltshire town nearby that has become the focal point for Britain's returning war dead.
By tradition, the town falls silent and businesses halt and the bell of St Bartholomew's Church tolls.
Several thousand people were expected to be lining the route — which campaigners want to rename The Highway of Heroes — as the eight hearses pass through the town including shopkeepers, British Legion members, veterans, families and relatives and friends of the dead soldiers.
Among them, holding eight red roses and a tribute made from bunting and newspaper clippings, was Alison Aldridge, the aunt of one of the victims, Rifleman Will Aldridge.
“I take comfort from the fact that he had two very fulfilling years rather than a lifetime of regrets,” she said. “It's lovely that so many people are here — young and old.”
Around 60 friends of Rifleman Daniel Hume had travelled from Maidstone and Slough, including his ex-girlfriend Bianca Bond, 21, who said: “I just can't believe he's gone. I'm very proud of the people who have come here and so proud of him.”
The head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, had told the dead men's families earlier that their loved ones died for a vital cause.
“My heart goes out to them in their grief at this time but they should take great comfort from the fact that their loved ones lost their lives in carrying out a mission that is really important,” said Sir Richard.
“Important not just for Afghanistan and the region but for the overall security of the West and the UK.”
Mayor of Wootton Bassett Steve Bucknell said: “Every repatriation is a very sad event, whether one person or eight. What makes it so much sadder is when you see the friends and family of the fallen and it brings it home these were real people with real lives — someone's son, grandson, brother and father.”
The eight bodies being repatriated today included the five killed by makeshift bombs near Sangin, Helmand, on Friday: Corporal Jonathan Horne, 28, Rifleman William Aldridge, 18, James Backhouse, 18, Daniel Simpson, 20, and Joseph Murphy, 18.
Also returning on the C17 plane were the bodies of Corporal Lee Scott, 26, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, who died just north of Nad-e-Ali, and Private John Brackpool, 27, who was shot at Char-e-Anjir while on sentry duty, and Rifleman Daniel Hume, 22, who was killed in an explosion while on a foot patrol near Nad-e-Ali.
Since the deaths on Friday, a political row over the war in Afghanistan has become more heated.
It was claimed Gordon Brown rejected a recommendation from military chiefs to send 2,000 more troops to Helmand.
Despite a warning that refusal would jeopardise the mission against the Taliban, the Government sent only 700 temporary reinforcement during the presidential elections in Kabul. It was the cheapest of four options put to the Government by military leaders in March, according to today's Times. During exchanges with Tory leader David Cameron in the Commons yesterday, Mr Brown conceded he may increase troop numbers.
He promised a review after the Afghan elections, while sources suggested the 700 temporaries would be made permanent.
Downing Street also fended off fresh claims that the Army was being deprived of resources, in particular helicopters. Labour insists there has been an 84 per cent increase in the availability of helicopters over the past two years.
However the Tories say the number has only gone up 60 per cent.
Reader views (13)
My friend, who had a father who was a major in the Green Janckets, pre- The Rifles, telephoned the barracks at their home, Winchester today. There is to be nothing to commemorate these young lives. Winchester is the home of the Rifles, as it was in the Rifle Brigade for my father of over 21 years in service. How quickly people like Prince Edward forget - the Royal Col. 2nd Battalion.Also, how long will it be before these young widows, should they be living in married quarters as was my mother,are given their notice to quit?
Amber in Mitcham
- Amber In Mitcham, Mitcham Surrey
If every MP who had a child aged between 16 and 30 years of age was forced to ensure that his/her son/daughter entered the armed forces and have to fight on the front line - do you think we would had the war in Iraq or Afghanistan or that the armed forces would have to continue with inadequate equipment/support? No I thought not!
- Andy, london
Basil, thats a rich statement from France,did your troops give it a go,decided it was dangerous,and then revert to form,and give in?
- Terry, London
Whilst I agree with the comments posted by others,I should like to say that when one volunteers to become a member of HM armed forces,one is trained to kill an enemy,and one should not be suprised if the enemy tries to kill you,there is much more to being a Soldier than playing war games on Salisbury Plain,of course it is an absolute tragedy when a Soldier is lost in battle,but that risk goes with the chosen career.
- Sebastian Willmot Young, Frimley Surrey
When you see the self satisfied grin on the face of Tony Blair and then consider the way the British people were misled by him and his camp followers you can only despair. I served for 27 years in the Royal Navy and was involved in Aden, Malaysia etc and it was always a just, sensible cause. Today I wonder, not that the army which is bearing the brunt as usual and is fighting superbly but whether or not the politicians (none of whom have any military service) actually understand their responsibilities to both the servicemen and the population. They seem incapable of leading and more importantly accepting any responsibility. I wonder if the grinning article Blair really apreciates what a difficult position he has got the country in.
- Nick Holland, glasgow
thank you Mr blair for starting it,thank you Mr brown for letting it carry on,also to our wonderful goverment as nobody has a consious btween you have a wonderful holiday while people are gettng killed due to your up most concern looking after the country,
- Basil, bussiere poitevine 87320 france
Ezza, you are absolutely right and it is also true to say that Brown and Blair have our young soldiers blood dripping from their hands. One day they will answer for it.
- Roy Lewis, United Kingdom
These horrible lazy venal politicians cannot be bothered to even turn up at RAF Lyneham to show some solidarity with those whose loved ones are brought back in coffins. To the best of my knowledge not one has bothered to show their face, EVER. As a former army officer of 30 years service these people are utterly despised by the service community and looked upon with utter contempt, they are the proverbial thing you trod in which stuck to your shoe.
- Malcolm Suffolk, Bury st Edmunds UK
Time for a cull of MP's. Like Brown, MP's are not getting the message that the people are angry with them, and are showing them up by joining in to welcome back our Troops. BUT the time may well come when the taking of the streets by the people my not be as peaceful if the MP's do not shape up . They will be shipped out at the next election. All of you with computer connections now have the ability to keep watch on the MP's you have voted for and fund through your taxes or may do so in the future. If you feel you are not geting value for your money well you can do something about it. It is YOUR Parliament. You OWN your MP. Get the message across. You can make a difference. "Up with this we will not put" should be your watchword.
- Albert Hall, hove england
I agree with Ezza ....the policticians are all a bunch of stuck up idiots who have absolutely no idea how normal people live and obviously couldnt care less about whats going on in Afghanistan if only 75 of them could show their sorry faces....Bring our boys home..enough of polictics ...god bless the ones who didnt make it home r.i.p. and god bless the ones who are either out there now or waiting to be deployed xx
- Rlm, London
The people of Wootton Bassett and those who travelled there should be proud of themselves. This display of respect and support is exactly what this country needs. Whatever our individual views on the decision to take our troops into Iraq and Afghanistan, our support should be firmly behind our boys who face the daily fight out there. I hope the bereaved families can take some small comfort in the pride they must have felt at the turnout today.
- Mandy, London
They are all so young, it's very sad. It is about time the government and public realised the sacrifice these young men and women make and the recognition is overdue.
My heartfelt sympathies to their families, friends and colleagues.
- Kim, Lancing, West Sussex
Yesterday in PARLIAMENT the Defence secretary BOB AINSWORTH lead the Debate on Afghanistan, with approx 75 MPs there ,out of 651. HOW BAD IS THAT ?:
What do think the rest of the MPs where doing, getting ready for their Holidays perhaps and while THEY are away our BRAVE BRITISH TROOPS WILL STILL FIGHTING ON AND ON , DAY IN DAY OUT.
- Ezza, lancashire, ENGLAND
