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Brigade on way home from fighting Troops arrive home from fighting
(about 8 hours later)
About 150 troops are to return home to Britain after a tour of duty in southern Afghanistan. About 150 troops have arrived back in the UK after a tour of duty in southern Afghanistan.
Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade are on their way back to Colchester, Essex, following six months in the Helmand Province trouble spot. Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade have arrived back in Colchester, Essex, following six months in the Helmand Province trouble spot.
Military experts said the level of fighting experienced by the unit against the Taleban had been the most intense since the Korean War. The level of fighting experienced by the unit had been the most intense since the Korean War, some experts say.
Army commanders added that the troops will undergo a normalisation programme on their return to Essex.
Wives or partners of seven soldiers are believed to have given birth recently.Wives or partners of seven soldiers are believed to have given birth recently.
Army officials said a number of babies had been born in the past six months but would not confirm the figure. Army officials confirmed a number of babies had been born in the past six months but would not say how many.
The soldiers - all men - stopped off in Cyprus to "unwind" before continuing their journey to the UK. The soldiers stopped off in Cyprus to "unwind" before continuing their journey to the UK.
Brigade unwinding An Army spokesman said: "In view of the intensity of operations conducted in Helmand province, considerable thought has been given to the return of troops to the UK.
The Army said soldiers returning from the war would undergo a "normalisation" programme on their return to Essex.
"In view of the intensity of operations conducted in Helmand province, considerable thought has been given to the return of troops to the UK," said an Army spokesman.
"Frontline units will have spent a short period en route in Cyprus, where they have been able to unwind before arriving back in the UK.""Frontline units will have spent a short period en route in Cyprus, where they have been able to unwind before arriving back in the UK."
An Army spokesman said 16 Air Assault Brigade's handover to 3 Commando Brigade was a complex operation which would not be completed for some weeks.An Army spokesman said 16 Air Assault Brigade's handover to 3 Commando Brigade was a complex operation which would not be completed for some weeks.
He said a number of soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade would remain in Afghanistan until that handover was complete.He said a number of soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade would remain in Afghanistan until that handover was complete.