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| Homecoming parade for Iraq troops | Homecoming parade for Iraq troops |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of soldiers have been given a heroes' welcome as they marched through Cardiff city centre to mark their return home from Iraq. | Hundreds of soldiers have been given a heroes' welcome as they marched through Cardiff city centre to mark their return home from Iraq. |
| About 450 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh took part in the homecoming parade. | |
| Some 220 who had been on their first tour of duty in Iraq were presented with medals at the Millennium Stadium. | Some 220 who had been on their first tour of duty in Iraq were presented with medals at the Millennium Stadium. |
| The parade celebrated the end of the tour of duty, and three soldiers who lost their lives were also remembered. | |
| For the ceremony - hosted by the Welsh Assembly Government - the soldiers, led by the Lucknow Band of the Prince of Wales Division and a Warrior armoured tracked vehicle, marched from Cardiff Castle, along St Mary Street to the Millennium Stadium. | |
| People are putting their lives on the line to protect us and our freedom and I think it's important for people to come along and show their support Ospreys rugby star Ian Evans, whose sister served in Iraq | People are putting their lives on the line to protect us and our freedom and I think it's important for people to come along and show their support Ospreys rugby star Ian Evans, whose sister served in Iraq |
| In front of their families, friends and members of the public, the Iraq medals were presented ahead of a lunch party on the pitch. | In front of their families, friends and members of the public, the Iraq medals were presented ahead of a lunch party on the pitch. |
| Commanding officer Lt Colonel James Swift said: "We are very lucky to be able to mark our return to Wales in such style and pay a fitting tribute to our fallen comrades." | Commanding officer Lt Colonel James Swift said: "We are very lucky to be able to mark our return to Wales in such style and pay a fitting tribute to our fallen comrades." |
| Three members of the battalion who lost their lives in Iraq - Cpl Paul Joszko, L/Cpl Ryan Francis and Pte Craig Barber - were honoured at the ceremony. | Three members of the battalion who lost their lives in Iraq - Cpl Paul Joszko, L/Cpl Ryan Francis and Pte Craig Barber - were honoured at the ceremony. |
| Two other soldiers who died in Iraq while attached to the Royal Welsh from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland - Pte Jamie Kerr and Pte Scott Kennedy - were also be remembered. | Two other soldiers who died in Iraq while attached to the Royal Welsh from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland - Pte Jamie Kerr and Pte Scott Kennedy - were also be remembered. |
| Ospreys rugby player Ian Evans, whose sister Lisa has recently returned home from Iraq, welcomed the parade. | Ospreys rugby player Ian Evans, whose sister Lisa has recently returned home from Iraq, welcomed the parade. |
| "People are putting their lives on the line to protect us and our freedom and I think it's important for people to come along and show their support to the armed forces and the people still serving out there," he said. | "People are putting their lives on the line to protect us and our freedom and I think it's important for people to come along and show their support to the armed forces and the people still serving out there," he said. |
| The parade came after Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, said in September he was concerned that the work carried out by troops was not being acknowledged. | The parade came after Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, said in September he was concerned that the work carried out by troops was not being acknowledged. |
| The 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, which is based in Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth, in Wiltshire, recruits from the whole of Wales. | The 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, which is based in Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth, in Wiltshire, recruits from the whole of Wales. |