THE 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment lost nine soldiers during its tour in Afghanistan.

The proud regiment, which can trace its history back 300 years, felt the loss of each soldier.

While every last man and woman honoured the fallen and mourned with their families, they continued to do their duty for Queen and country.

The last group of soldiers from 3 Yorks returned from Afghanistan in October.

It marked the end of a nine-month tour of duty.

The end of the campaign was followed by the ceremonial extinguishing of a candle which had burned throughout the soldiers’ absence.

But the relief and joy at the homecoming was tinged with sadness and a sense of loss for those soldiers who didn’t return.

Of the nine soldiers killed, Corunna Company bore the brunt losing six in what was the biggest single loss of life in the conflict.

Three of those who died were from Huddersfield.

A Warrior armoured vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Lashkar Gah on March 6, 2012.

Cpl Jake Hartley, 20, of New Mill; Pte Daniel Wilford, 21, of Cowlersley and Pte Anton Frampton, 20, of Longwood, died along with Sgt Nigel Coupe, Pte Daniel Wade and Pte Christopher Kershaw.

Also killed was 18-year-old Pte Tom Wroe, of Meltham, who was shot and fatally wounded by a rogue Afghan policeman at Checkpoint Tora in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on September 15, 2012.

Private Wroe died alongside Sgt Gareth Thursby.

The other 3 Yorks soldier killed in combat was Pte Gregg Stone, of Burma Company.

He died after coming under fire in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on June 3, 2012.

Corunna Company returned from Afghanistan to their base at Warminster last September.

A few weeks later the 170-strong company staged a homecoming parade in Huddersfield.

The soldiers marched through the town centre to huge acclaim as hundreds lined the streets to welcome them back.

A private service for the fallen was held at Huddersfield Parish Church.

The last 3 Yorks soldiers arrived back at their Wiltshire base in October.

A ceremonial candle, which had burned for the length of the nine-month tour of duty, was finally extinguished by Lance Cpl Dale Leadbetter.

The commanding officer of 3 Yorks, Lt Col Zac Stenning, said it had been a privilege to lead the troops in Afghanistan and paid tribute to his soldiers and their families.

He said: “I am extremely proud of the soldiers and officers of 3 Yorks and all they have achieved in Afghanistan. The courage, dedication and selfless commitment of the soldiers has been of the highest possible standard.

“The support from the families who remained behind has been truly humbling.”

The first Yorkshire Regiment battalion was deployed to Afghanistan in September 2011.

But, despite the scaling down of British operations, the 2nd battalion remains on standby for another tour in late 2014.

Since the Yorkshire Regiment was formed in 2006, a total of 18 soldiers have lost their lives.

They include Lance Corporal Graham Shaw, 27, of Golcar, killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand province on February 1, 2010.

The regiment has an emotional, practical and financial network to help bereaved families that can last a lifetime.

Regimental secretary Col David O’Kelly has been to all 18 funerals and met all 18 families.

“All are solemn but proud occasions and each tragic event binds the regiment to a local community,” he said.

“It is our duty to ensure the families are looked after – not just for weeks or months – but therein after.

“Each family is different. Some stay connected with us for longer than others. Some just like to know that we are there if they need us.

“We look after our soldiers and their dependents forever. That may be an 84-year-old widow or a 20-year-old wounded soldier’s unborn child. We deal with every age group.”

Col O’Kelly said one of the unknowns of modern-day conflicts was the mental health legacy.

“The soldiers of today may not need our help today,” he said. “They may need it in 25 years time.

“As a nation we don’t know what the mental health legacy will be. If we knew what was coming we could do something about it.

“We know that combat stress can take a long time to manifest itself. The average length of time is 13 years.

“So a chap coming back from Afghanistan in 2012 may not need us until 2025.

“Maybe he is at his daughter’s birthday party and a balloon bursts and it awakens a tragic event in Afghanistan that was buried away.

“We still have Falklands veterans suffering with post traumatic stress disorder.”

The Yorkshire regimental office deals with 300 benevolent cases every year and spends around £100,000 helping those in need.

“It’s a big commitment that we make,” said Col O’Kelly. “But I see it as our core business. The Army looks after its own.”