Families to line route as soldiers march towards Freedom

Jul 12 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

HUNDREDS of soldiers recently returned from duty in Iraq will be parading through Chester next weekend.

The 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) has accepted an invitation to lead the Lord Mayor of Chester’s Parade next Saturday.

The battalion was formed last September 1 following the amalgamation of three neighbouring infantry regiments, including The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment.

It will be presented with the Freedom of the City by the Lord Mayor.

Family and friends will line the route for the new battalion, which, like its predecessor, recruits its soldiers from most of Cheshire, including Wirral.

The soldiers were sent to Iraq last November, returning to the UK in late May.

Parts of the battalion were stationed at Basra’s main airport.

Another company of men (about 120 soldiers) were farther north in Baghdad, and another company was based farther south, at Umm Qasr port.

Among the soldiers on parade will be Captain Richard Quellyn-Roberts, 27, from Rowton, Chester.

He said: “Coming from Chester, I am immensely proud to have the honour of marching through my home town with my comrades and soldiers who shared similar experiences.

“I look forward to seeing friends and family on the day and for them to have the chance to see our regiment marching in all its glory.”

The parade starts at 11am.