Video: Cheers and tears as Afghanistan soldiers march through Ripon

More than 400 soldiers from 21 Engineer Regiment marched through the city’s streets, following a six-month tour, to applause from local people, family and friends.

Lieutenant Colonel Jack Nicholson, commanding officer of 21 Engineer Regiment, paid tribute to two comrades who had been lost during the tour.

“I am immensely proud of the hard work and dedication shown by the soldiers and officers of my regiment during our time in Afghanistan,” he said.

“There were many high points, but sadly also some very low ones.

“It is with great sadness that during the tour we sustained the tragic loss of Captain James Townley and Sapper Richard Walker – our thoughts, as ever, are with their friends and families.”

Led by the band of the King’s Division, the homecoming parade took soldiers through the city to Ripon Cathedral for a service.

Afterwards, the parade continued along Kirkgate to Market Square where Major General (Retired) Keith Cima, took the salute as the regiment marched past.

In the afternoon a medals ceremony was conducted at Claro Barracks to mark the end of the deployment.

The barracks was last month earmarked for closure by 2017 by the Ministry of Defence.

Sapper Walker, 23, was shot dead by a member of the Afghan National Army as he undertook construction work in Helmand in January.Capt James Townley died in a shooting incident four months earlier.

During their tour of duty, soldiers carried out work in Helmand on a number tasks including the closure or transfer of over 30 security bases in preparation of the handover of security to the Afghan National Security Forces.