Two hundred Riflemen of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles (2 RIFLES) were invited by The Worshipful Mayor of Croydon to march through the town yesterday, 29 October to celebrate their return from a six-month operational tour in Afghanistan.

The 2 RIFLES had in their ranks a number Riflemen from Croydon and the London area, as well as London TA Riflemen from their sister battalion, 7 RIFLES, who have also been serving with 2 RIFLES in Afghanistan.

The parade paid tribute to Rifleman Danny Simpson, 2 RIFLES, who came from Croydon and who sadly was one of 13 men of 2 RIFLES killed in action.

Prior to the parade The Band and Bugles of The Rifles held a short public 'Platz Concert' in North End before meeting up with the marching contingent, marching from the Mitcham Road TA Centre.

They then marched together through the pedestrian area to the Town Hall in Katharine Street and were inspected by The Mayor, the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London and the General Officer Commanding London District, Maj General Bill Cubitt.

Thousands of people lined the streets to welcome and cheer the soldiers.

After the parade the Riflemen, members of their families and invited guests were hosted at a civic reception by the Mayor Councillor Margaret Mead JP, in Fairfield Halls, where she granted 2 RIFLES the Freedom of Croydon -the first Regular battalion to be granted this honour.

Close quarter combat

2 RIFLES deployed to Afghanistan in April and have been engaged in close quarter combat with the Taliban in Helmand Valley, where they have seen some of the fiercest fighting the British Army has experienced since World War II.

CO of the 2 Rifles Battle Group Lt Col Rob Thomson, said: "When we were told in 2008 that we would become the Battle Group responsible for the town of Sangin and the Upper Sangin Valley, we were only too well aware of the challenges that lay ahead.

"Having deployed frequently over the last ten years, we had the right operational experience but there was not one iota of complacency as we headed out to Afghanistan on our toughest assignment yet.

"We have a saying in the Battle Group that one is only as good as the next operation so, as we grabbed our rifles, body armour and packs, we knew we would be called upon to strain every sinew over six hard months. We were not wrong."