Towns to mark regiment homecoming

The regiment has completed a six-month operational tour in Iraq

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment will mark their homecoming from overseas operations with a series of parades next week.

They will march through Hull Beverley, Harrogate, Leeds and York - all places where they hold the freedom to march with bayonets fixed and colours flying.

Most have family in Yorkshire and recently returned to their base in Germany after tours in Iraq and Kosovo.

The 130 soldiers will march to the Band of the King's Division.

The marches take place in York and Harrogate on Tuesday, in Hull and Beverley on Thursday and in Leeds on Friday.

The homecoming to Yorkshire will also see three groups of soldiers being presented with their operational service medals at three major sporting events.

Under the command of Lt Col Jonny Price, the battalion deployed to Basra in Iraq in November 2008 as part of the UK's mission to train the Iraqi army to provide security for the country.

The Yorkshire Regiment's 'B' Company deployed to Kosovo last September as part of the wider Nato mission.