VOLUNTEER soldiers from Huddersfield will soon be on their way to Iraq.
Six members of the Territorial Army left the town on Saturday to start a six-week training course.
They will then be flown out to support allied troops fighting to keep the peace in the war-torn country.
The men are all members of the 3rd Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment, based at the Drill Hall in St Paul's Street.
They linked up over the weekend with five colleagues from Halifax and 10 from Keighley to make the journey down to an Army base at Thetford, Norfolk.
Their training there will be followed by a stint on a specialist shooting range in Kent and at a base in Longmore, Surrey, before they fly out to the Middle East in November.
Those making the trip include two married men, Cpl Jamie Johnson, 34, of Dalton, a fully-trained Army chef, and L/Cpl Damian Eyre, 33, of Oakes, who has two children.
The other four from Huddersfield are: L/Cpl Simon Kenyon, 23, of Crosland Moor; Pte Matthew Ashness, 21, from Dalton; Pte Simon Goodman, 25, of Huddersfield; and Pte Paul Wilson, 28, of Cowlersley.
Capt Barry Hey, a regimental spokesman, said: "We are very proud of these men and their colleagues.
"They have volunteered for duties which will see them working in an area that is far removed from their normal environment.
"They are now undergoing very rigorous training.
"By the time they get to Iraq, they will be ready to work alongside the regular troops in any tasks that are required," added Capt Hey.
