Brigade parades through home town

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Servicemen from 16 Air Assault Brigade parading through Colchester in Essex, are greeted by thousands of spectators.

More than 700 members of the Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade have marched through the town to exercise its Freedom of the Borough.

The brigade, an airborne force made up of units from the Army and RAF, numbers about 6,000 personnel.

Thousands, including World War II veterans, turned out in heavy rain.

A Brigade spokesman said: "Given the atrocious weather it is a fantastic turnout and it's something we greatly appreciate."

Troops marched along East Hill and the High Street before a civic reception at the town hall.

'Excessive whinging'

The brigade marched with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed.

Former serviceman Bertram Cubitt, 71, who lives near Colchester, said: "I think it is very important that we are here to show our support for what the services are doing.

"There are far too many people whingeing. Civilians, not soldiers.

Thousands of people turned out in heavy rain to watch the parade

"Soldiers don't want to hear people whingeing, they want to know that the public is backing them.

"It's enough to say 'We don't agree with the war, but we give our backing absolutely to our armed forces."

Olive Johnson, 80, from Colchester, said she found it "very distressing" to see so many member of the armed forces being killed.

"I do think we should bring them home," she said. "Too many are dying for no reason."