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Yorkshire Warriors marching home - SLIDESHOW
WELL- WISHERS lined the streets of Rotherham yesterday to welcome home soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment - and in Sheffield a concert was held to mark their return from Iraq.
Troops from the Regiment's Third Battalion were among the last British soldiers to serve in the troublespot.
Fresh from the dusty roads of Baghdad, 140 troops marched through the streets of Rotherham with bayonets fixed and colours flying, in a display of pageantry.
It was very different from the serious business of guarding military bases in the Middle East and helping maintain security.
Soldiers from the battalion were also some of the first into Iraq during the invasion to topple Saddam Hussain's regime in 2003.
Third Battalion officer Capt Mally Birkett said: "It's days like this that make it all worthwhile. We have a long connection with the people of Rotherham, and for them to come out and support us in this way has been absolutely fantastic.
"The people here are fiercely proud - there have been thousands of people out today, young and old.
"Some of the boys only got off the plane from Iraq last Monday, and when they come back and see the public supporting them in this way, it's a fantastic feeling - especially when so many of the lads are from areas around here.
"I'm from Sheffield myself, so I have a real connection with the area."
The Mayor of Rotherham, Coun Shaukat Ali, granted the Yorkshire Regiment the Freedom of the Borough of Rotherham.
"At a time when members of our armed forces, particularly the Army, are regularly losing their lives, this is an opportune moment for everyone here in Rotherham to recognise the work that these brave men and women do on a daily basis," the Mayor said.
"I am aware that the soldiers on parade today have just returned from active service in Iraq.
"They epitomise everything that our armed forces stand for and more, because, ladies and gentlemen, these soldiers have the 'Yorkshire Warrior' tradition and are united by common values, their history and their Yorkshire roots."
In Sheffield, a fanfare of colour and music was put on by the Regiment's marching band - the Band of the King's Division.
Marching tunes, modern pieces and military music were played in a free concert in the city centre Peace Gardens.
The High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, the Mayors and Mayoresses of Barnsley and Rotherham, and the leader of Sheffield Council, Coun Paul Scriven, attended the concert.
Coun Scriven said: "We're always happy to support the armed forces Sheffield is linked to, and we're proud of our heritage with The Yorkshire Regiment, who recruit many men and women from Sheffield and elsewhere in South Yorkshire to serve for our country."
As well as serving in Iraq until the end of Britain's involvement, the Yorkshire Regiment has soldiers deployed in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
A company of soldiers from the Third Battalion left for Afghanistan just last week.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
