Tears as soldiers welcomed home

Sgt Derrick proposed to Ms Petherick on the internet while on duty

Dozens of soldiers have had emotional reunions with their families after returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 90 men and women from 42 Battery, 32 Regiment Royal Artillery in Wiltshire have spent months on aerial reconnaissance operations.

They paraded through Robert Barracks in Larkhill and were met with tears, hugs and kisses from relatives.

One was seeing his fiancee for the first time since proposing to her on the internet while on duty.

Sergeant Del Derrick, 35, from Basingstoke, in Hampshire, said he could not wait to see Sara Petherick.

He said: "We were having a largely internet-based relationship anyway, it's the easiest way to communicate.

"So I thought it was fitting to ask her to marry me.

"We had only been together for a month and a half, but while I was out there, I just knew she was the one.

"I haven't seen her for 108 days - and I couldn't wait to get back."

The couple will marry on November 26 in Mauritius - all arranged while Sgt Derrick was away.

Miss Petherick said: "I was worried while he was away, there are times when contact goes down and I don't hear from him, which is terrible.

"It's just brilliant to have him back here."

I was really nervous and excited before seeing him. I couldn't sleep last night, it was like the night before Christmas. Emma Wilkinson

Emma Wilkinson, from Stroud, in Gloucestershire, came down to welcome her husband, 39-year-old Sergeant Paul Wilkinson, back from Afghanistan - the last time she will ever have to do so.

"He's 39 and will retire next year after serving for 22 years and is never going to go overseas again," she said.

"I was really nervous and excited before seeing him, I couldn't sleep last night, it was like the night before Christmas."

Lance bombardier Ian Crane, 24, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, joined the Army when he was 16 and has been away in Iraq for just over six months.

He was thrilled to see his one-year-old son Ashton - having only seen him twice since he was born.

"It's been a brilliant six months, but I could not wait to see my family," he said.

"I am back for about 18 months this time, so I should get to spend some quality time with them."