Minster's bell tolls for the fallen in brigade's tragic tour

The historic cathedral hosted an emotional memorial service yesterday in honour of the fallen soldiers from the Catterick-based 4th Mechanized Brigade, which has just returned from a tragic six-month tour of Afghanistan.

The Prince of Wales, who attended the packed service alongside 600 military personnel, dignitaries and many bereaved relatives, stood with his head bowed as the names of the dead echoed along the Minster's ancient aisles.

Prince Charles, who is Colonel in Chief of several regiments represented at the memorial service, also laid a wreath in memory of the service personnel who lost their lives.

Later, he met bereaved families at Imphal Barracks in Fulford, York.

Among them was Teresa Walker, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, who lost her husband, Lance Sergeant Davey Walker, 37, in February , who was the first soldier killed on the tour.

"It was an emotional day for me", she said, "and it was important that the Prince was there.

"It was a very moving service and it was a special day for me.

"Davey was a lovely lad, always smiling and joking.

"He loved his job and he loved the Army."

Also at yesterday's service was Brigadier Mike Griffiths, Colonel of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, who lost his 25-year-old son Captain Andrew Griffiths during the tour when he was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) as he and his colleagues tried to clear a compound.

Brig Griffiths said: "I think it is hugely important to remember and recognise the sacrifice of all those who died during the tour.

"I'm here as a father who lost his son.

"My regiment lost six soldiers, he was one of the six.

"The Prince of Wales's sons both served, his youngest served in Helmand.

"He knows this is every parent's worst nightmare. He would have had sleepless nights.

"My son was a lion of a man. He always wanted to join the Army and wanted to join the infantry as he thought that was where leadership was required.

"He was passionate about what he was doing and the progress being made.

"He loved his job and he loved leading soldiers.

"I'm immensely proud of the job he did and the soldiers he led."

The 4th Mechanized Brigade was 6,500 strong for its task force deployment.

Most of its component units, including The Royal Dragoon Guards and The Queen's Royal Lancers, are based at Catterick.

But other units which made up the brigade are based elsewhere in the UK, including 40 Commando Royal Marines, based in Taunton; 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, based in Cheshire; and 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal Scots Borderers, based in Edinburgh.

Brigadier Richard Felton, commander of the task force and an army veteran of 26 years who has served previously in Afghanistan in 2006 as well as Northern Ireland and the Falklands, said the tour was based in central

Helmand province and the fighting was particularly fierce as the insurgents had been squeezed in.

Brig Felton said that despite the army making "massive steps forward" in Afghanistan, IEDs would still continue to cause casualties to soldiers and indiscriminate deaths among Afghan civilians

Defence Secretary Liam Fox, who was also in attendance yesterday, said: "I thought it was a very beautiful service.

"It was a very moving service for me. It must have been all the more moving for those families who have lost loved ones.

"I think it is important for the families to know that their loved one were engaged in something that is vastly improving the quality of life for people who otherwise had no hope."

He said troops were in Afghanistan for the UK's national security and to ensure the country did not become a failed state.

"We don't want it to be a vacuum into which terrorism and insurgency can be drawn again," he added.

"What we are doing is good for our security and it is good for the people of Afghanistan and for the wider region."

During yesterday's service, the hymn I Vow To Thee, My Country was sung and The Last Post played. A piper from 1st Battalion Scots Guards played The Lament: Flowers of the Forest and

opera singer Russell Watson also performed.

The Rev Benjamin Abeledo,

senior chaplain to 4th Mechanized Brigade, paid tribute to the fallen. He said: "We have gathered today in this house to give thanks

for all who have served in Afghanistan with 4th Mechanized Brigade, and especially to honour and remember before God those who have died in the course of their duties.

"We thank God for courage shown in the midst of intense conflict and for loyalty and service given to our nation."

Also in attendance were military representatives of other nations serving alongside the British in Afghanistan.

Total death toll approaching 350

The number of UK service personnel killed in operations in Afghanistan since 2001 stands at 346.

The vast majority of soldiers have died in Helmand province.

The most recent British soldier to be killed was announced by the Ministry of Defence on Sunday.

The soldier, who has not been named, served with the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment and died of gunshot wounds after taking part in an operation against insurgent elements in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province.

Fighting has been particularly fierce this year as more troops have been deployed and military chiefs claim insurgents realise "the window of opportunity is closing".

The number of US soldiers killed in the Afghan war in 2010 is the highest annual toll since the conflict began almost nine years ago.

Taliban improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have become the biggest killers of troops, with the bombs difficult to detect and often buried by roadsides and remotely detonated to devastating effect