Grenadier Guards return home after six-month tour of Afghanistan
Last updated at 09:24am on 26th September 2007 There were tears and celebrations as 111 members of the Grenadier Guards returned to their barracks in Aldershot after a six-month tour of Afghanistan.
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But the joy was tempered by the loss of five of their comrades and concerns among the soldiers over how quickly they had been sent away.
The 111 service personnel flew into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at 8pm this evening before being bussed down to their Hampshire barracks.
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Reunited: Lance Sgt Chris Beardshaw of the Grenadier Guards cuddles his children after he arrived back to Aldershot from Afghanistan
There they were met by their wives and young children holding up banners which read "Welcome home Daddy", "Welcome back home" and "Welcome home Rob and all the Grenadier Guards".
As the men got off the coaches their families rushed towards them and greeted them with tearful hugs.
The mood was summed up by commanding officer Lt Col Carew Hatherley.
He had an emotional reunion with his wife Canada, 35, and daughter Isabelle, six even though she didn't initially recognise who he was.
He said: "It's been a long old six months and has been pretty ferocious at times.
"We've been very busy these last couple of years and it's fantastic to be home and see my family.
"Isabelle didn't actually recognise me when she first saw me and asked: 'Is that you Daddy?'
"Whilst it is great to be home our thoughts are with those who didn't make it back."
Sgt Lee Northam, 34, from Windsor, was looking forward to seeing one-year-old son Henry take his first steps.
He said: "Its lovely to be home and I've seen a DVD of Henry walking but to actually see it for myself will be incredible."
His wife Anne, 39, a PA added: "Today is like all of my birthdays have come at the same time. The last few days have been a real rollercoaster and I've been living on adrenaline.
"Its going to be lovely to have him home for more than a couple of weeks."
Lance Sgt Chris Beardshaw, 29, was met by his family holding a "Welcome Home Daddy" banner.
He picked up son Rhys, five, who asked him: "Daddy, are you staying for more than a few weeks?" To which he replied: "Yes I am son, I love you."
He was then hugged by other son Devon, two, daughter Dannielle, 12, and wife Lara, 35.
She said: "I've been in touch with him once a week or so on the phone but to see him in the flesh, I can't describe it. I hardly recognised him as he's been away for so long."
Some of the soldiers raised concerns that they had been sent out to Afghanistan too soon after coming back from a tour of Iraq.
Guardsman Matthew Lyne-Pirkis, 27, said: "The time between us coming home and us being sent out is ridiculous.
"I went straight onto a medic course after I got back from Iraq and didn't really get a break at all. This will be a much needed rest."
The turnaround between this deployment and the previous one in Afghanistan is believed to be the fastest for any infantry unit in modern history.
Lance Sergeant Paul Fear, 36, added: "It's a massive relief to have this break because we've done three tours in the last three years.
"Officially we're supposed to get a two-year break between the tours but between Iraq and Afghanistan it was only a matter of months."
The Grenadier Guards were sent on a tour of Bosnia in 2004/2005, then they were sent to Iraq in 2006 and that was followed by Afghanistan in 2007.
The Grenadier Guards' role in their latest mission in Afghanistan was to train up and supervise the Afghan Army.
Around 100 have already returned home after a six month tour and 200 more will return in mid-October.
