HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of Huddersfield to welcome home Yorkshires military heroes on a bitter-sweet day for the town.
Some 170 soldiers from Corunna Company, 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment took part in a special homecoming parade yesterday lunchtime.
The company has just completed a six-month tour of duty of Afghanistan.
In that time six soldiers, including four from Huddersfield, lost their lives.
Scores of people turned out to show their respect and support for the soldiers.
The troops, led by the Band of the Kings Division, marched through the town centre, pausing for an inspection and salute in New Street.
From there they marched to Huddersfield Parish Church for a private service also attended by family and friends of those who had died.
Cpl Jake Hartley, 20, of New Mill, Pte Anton Frampton, 20, of Longwood, and Pte Daniel Wilford, 21, of Cowlersley, all died when their Warrior armoured vehicle was blown up in March.
Last month Pte Tom Wroe, 18, of Meltham, was killed with another soldier when an Afghan policeman they went to help opened fire on them.
Pte Wroes family dad Mick, mum Claire and 14-year-old sister Demi were among those who attended the parade and service.
Mick, a former soldier himself, told the Examiner: Its a happy-sad day, very poignant. Im filling up now just talking about it.
Its great that people have come out to support our troops and remember those who didnt come back.
We are so grateful for all the support weve had.
Others to attend included Nathalie Taylor, mother of Jake Hartley, and her son Ethan, and Pte Framptons mother, Margaret Charlesworth and her husband Martin.
People gathered more than an hour before the parade, all united in support of the troops but many questioning why British forces remained in Afghanistan.
Peter Addy, 76, of Fartown, who served in the former Duke of Wellingtons regiment, said: The troops should come home now.
As soon as they pull out its going to be worse than ever. I dont know what we are doing there.
Former colleague Tom Martin, also 76, of Berry Brow, added: We have come to pay our respects and show our support but I feel the troops are wasting their time out there. There is nothing left to gain.
Mrs Pat Harpin, 69, who attended the parade with husband Joseph, 74, said: The troops are doing a good job but its time they came home.
If you are being killed by the people you are supposed to be training its time to come home.
Colne Valley Tory MP Jason McCartney, a former RAF officer, spoke of his pride at the troops and thanked them for their sacrifice.
In the aftermath of tragedy he said the public needed to be reminded why British forces were in Afghanistan.
We are there because terrorists were being trained to kill and maim men, women and children on our shores, he said.
Click below to see our collection of pictures from the parade.
Having said that our troops are coming home.
Some 900 troops will be home by the end of this year and 4,000 next year and there will be a complete withdrawal by 2014.
Logistically, with all the specialist equipment we have out there, it is not possible to withdraw overnight and leave everything to the Taliban.
Taking the salute in New Street watched by office workers leaning out of upstairs windows the crowd were left surprised and smiling by the bands rendition of Tom Jones hit Its Not Unusual.
Even the stiff upper lips of the soldiers broke into broad grins and giggles as some of the crowd began to gyrate to the music.
The soldiers quickly composed themselves for the inspection by top brass but this was clearly not an event for stuffy formality.
Formal stuff, though, came from the Mayor of Kirklees Clr David Ridgway who gave a speech thanking the troops on behalf of the people of Kirklees.
Clr Ridgway said history had proved that the British government could always rely on the Yorkshire Regiment at times of crisis.
The Yorkshire Regiment will be there whenever and wherever there are difficulties to be resolved, he said.
Addressing the troops he added: During the last couple of years in Iraq and Afghanistan we have been reminded of the constant dangers you face.
We will never be able to imagine what you have experienced.
He also praised the families of the soldiers who had died and said: Those who have been left behind have demonstrated their love and affection and have conducted themselves with such pride and dignity.
I have met many of them and I have been humbled in their presence. We are all very proud of you.
Clr Ridgway, who has chosen the Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Fund as his mayoral charity, said the troops had shown determination, dignity and duty and added: We owe you an enormous debt.
Lt Col Nigel Rhodes, representing commanding officer Gen Grahame Binns, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the troops for the welcome home.
He said: The soldiers on parade have recently completed a challenging, arduous but successful tour in Afghanistan and have enhanced their reputation for operational excellence.
After six months away it is tremendous to see them back home and so well received in the West Riding.
It is always a proud moment to return to where we consider to be our home.
As the troops marched to the Parish Church and joined relatives and others filing into the service, a lone protester approached shouting: Stop the war. Stop the Taliban. Stop the killing. Peace is a dirty word.
He fled into the distance as he was booed and shouted down.
Speaking after the parade Maj Edward Colver, of the Yorkshire Regiment, spoke of the soldiers delight to be home but their sorrow at the loss of life.
We have been looking forward to this day since we got back, he said.
But our company lost six people, and the worse loss of life happened early on when we hadnt been out there very long.
None of the guys thought something of that magnitude would happen but we had to get on and do our duty.
We are glad to be back and we are looking forward to our entire battalion being back at Warminster by the end of the month. Its been a great day.
Vicar of Huddersfield, the Rev Simon Moor led the short tribute service at the packed church.
Mr Moor said: It was a celebration that the unit was back home and they were delighted with the reception they received in the town centre, with people three or four deep and applauding as they went past.
But there was always that hint there of those who had not made it back.
Mr Moor led the service of hymns and readings and there were short addresses from troop commanders.
Huddersfield Pakistani Community Alliance added their voice to those welcoming the returning troops.
Shazad Hussain, who chairs the Alliance, said: Many of us in the UK take peace and security for granted.
We would like to put forward our respect to the soldiers families and pray for their peace and wellbeing.
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