Esher welcomes troops home from Afghanistan

Feb 25 2010 By Vicki Eltis

Soldiers from the 22 Battery Royal Artillery march in Esher

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UNION Jacks and more than 1,000 residents lined Esher High Street on Friday (February 19) to welcome home troops from Afghanistan.

The parade from Esher Police Station, up the High Street to Sandown Park Racecourse marked the end of the last six-month deployment to the war-torn country for soldiers from the 22 Battery Royal Artillery.

The march was led by a Mounted Section of the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery and followed by the Royal Artillery Band and accompanied by the Master Gunner St James’s Park, General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, the Mayor of Elmbridge councillor James Vickers, the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Sarah Goad JP and civil dignitaries.

Captain ,David Scammell, said: "The streets were lined with people. The support we had from residents was fantastic and it made me feel very proud of the regiment. I know our soldiers felt quite exhilarated as they went through."

This artillery, a vital member of the 19 Light Brigade, were involved in a number of key operations including Operation Panther's Claw, which saw one of the most heavily populated areas in Helm and cleared of Taliban influence.

The battery provides highly-valuable intelligence using tactical unmanned aerial vehicles.

Mayor of Elmbridge, Councillor James Vickers, said: "It's a tremendous honour to be invited to take the salute alongside the Master Gunner.

"Residents turned out in force to welcome home the troops and to marvel at the spectacle of the horses, gun carriages and marching band. I was particularly pleased to see save money from the Royal British Legion and the young army cadets. We had on Friday, past, present and future."

The soldiers are looking forward to being welcomed home by the people of Surrey, in what is one of their main recruiting areas.

The battery will march straight to Sandown Park where the feature race of the afternoon is the Royal Artillery Gold Cup.

The Royal Artillery Gold Cup is one of the oldest and most prestigious races of the jumping season. It was first run in 1863 and moved to Sandown Park for the first time in 1878.