Warwickshire News Mine

On Friday, November 27, at 11.30am, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is to parade through Warwick town centre to mark their arrival home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

And this was will be an extra special homecoming for the Fusiliers, who have a special link with Warwick as the The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers (The 6th of Foot) was one of four regiments to make up the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

As such the regiment has the freedom of the town and this enables them to march with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed. The parade will end at St John’s Museum where the regiment’s museum is housed (http://www.warwickfusiliers.co.uk).

The parade will involve 200 troops, including a colour party, Corps of Drums and Minden Band.

Their route will take Northgate Street, Church Street, High Street, Swan Street and Market Place, with a collective salute at Shire Hall from Warwickshire County Council Chairman Cllr Peter Barnes, Warwick District Council Chairman Cllr Norman Pratt, the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire Martin Dunne, High Sheriff of Warwickshire the Lady Kilmaine, Colonel of the Regiment Brigadier TJ Minter OBE DL, and Warwick Town Mayor Cllr Peggy Bennett, before continuing down Jury Street, Smith Street and to St John’s Museum.

Local people are being urged to attend the event and welcome home the troops from foreign shores. As part of the parade celebrations flags will be handed out along the route to allow people to demonstrate their support.

Cllr Peter Barnes, Chairman of Warwickshire County Council, said: “We have all seen the media coverage of what our servicemen and women are going through in Iraq and Afghanistan, but few of us can properly understand the sacrifices they go through for their country.

“I’m delighted to support the homecoming parade in Warwick in welcoming these heroes back to our shores.”

Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Calder, Commanding Officer, 2RRF said: “All Fusiliers can return proud in the knowledge that they left their little bit of Afghanistan significantly better than they found it.”

Major Jo Butterfill, Officer Commanding A Company, 2RRF stated: “The quiet individual heroism displayed by the soldiers that enabled them to operate in the face of such a severe and ever-present threat will stay with me forever.”

Fusilier Kieran Connolly said: “Despite the dangers we have had an amazing experience.  You have to be alert 100 per cent of the time but after all being on operations is what you sign up for.”

On the 23rd April 1968 the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was formed from the four English Fusilier regiments:
The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (The 5th of Foot)
The Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers (The 6th of Foot)
The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (The 7th of Foot)
The Lancashire Fusiliers (The 20th of Foot)

These regiments were steeped in history and traditions which have been retained by the Regiment today.

On formation, the Regiment consisted of four regular battalions, one volunteer battalion covering the four Regimental areas, and the Depot. Due to a series of Government Defence Reviews, ’ Options for Change’ and the recent ‘Strategic Defence Review’ the Regiment now comprises of two regular battalions and a number of Territorial Army companies located in the four regimental areas.

Link to WCC