MORE than 180 soldiers of 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers marked their return from Afghanistan with a homecoming parade in Balham last week.

It was one of a number of marches in the regiment’s recruiting areas and follows their six-month tour, during which the soldiers were based in the Nahr-e Saraj district of central Helmand.

The battalion also deployed a strong company of soldiers equipped with the specially modified Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

They were based in Lashkar Gah and successfully conducted a series of operations to stop insurgents disrupting life for local people.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Jon Swift, who comes from Croydon, said that the homecoming parade in south London would be a chance for people to celebrate the safe return of their local soldiers “The lads on parade have achieved a lot in Afghanistan and had a very successful and professionally rewarding tour,” he said.

Don’t forget that 4 RIFLES will be marching through Salisbury on Monday, December 9 and receiving their medals in the Guildhall Square from 11.15am.