LEADEN skies and drizzle could not dampen the enthusiasm of hundreds of families as they joined the Countess of Wessex to welcome back the soldiers of 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 Rifles) from their nine month tour in Estonia.

Over 450 soldiers and officers from the Bulford-based battalion, took part in a celebratory parade in front of family and friends in the presence of their Royal Colonel, The Countess of Wessex.

Sporting a RIFLES Regimental brooch, the Countess welcomed them back from ‘a successful tour in Estonia’.

Addressing the parade, The Countess of Wessex said: “As your Royal Colonel I am deeply proud that 5RIFLES were the first Battalion of UK soldiers to arrive in Estonia at the start of the NATO campaign to support our Estonian friends.”

“There were many eyes both from the east and the west upon you during this deployment and you had many visitors to you during your tour.

“Lastly to my Riflemen I say this, I continue to be a very proud Royal Colonel of this Battalion and I am honoured to play a small part in the life of what you do and what you represent, you have and you do an amazing job. Thank you for being such incredible Ambassadors of our Armed Forces and of our country.”

The battalion gave a Royal Salute to her Royal Highness before concluding the parade with their famous ‘Double past’ to the regimental march of The Keel Row and Road to the Isles played by The Band and Bugles of The Rifles.

After the parade the Countess spent time talking to families who had been watching the parade.

Distinguished guests attending the parade were the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Rose Troughton and the Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr John Lindley.

Military guests included the Commander of 20 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier Mike Ellis, the Estonian Ambassador, Siiri Liivanki, the Commander of the Estonian 1st Brigade, Colonel Velko Velio-Palm and French and Danish officers who served with the battalion in Estonia.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Ridland said: “It was a really special moment, not only to have the Royal Colonel here but it is also really special for the families and that is what today was all about. We’ve been away for a long period of time, to reunite the Battalion and to reunite the Battalion with the families and to celebrate what they’ve gone through and what we’ve gone through is important.”

Watching the parade was Marie Pidsley, wife of Corporal Adam Pidsley of B Company with their daughters Daisy, three, and Lily, five, who live in Wilton.

“It’s great to have him back,” said Marie. “The girls are so happy and the whole thing was made much easier by the help that we received from the school.

Lily was very happy. “It’s great to have daddy back, now we can play games together,” she said.