Homecoming for the Light Dragoons

The people of South Yorkshire are being asked to "fly the flag" on the return home of The Light Dragoons. People from across the borough, and beyond, are asked to dig out their Union Flags and descend on Barnsley town centre to help welcome the troops home.

It is a homecoming tinged with sadness as the troops are returning without Sgt Lee Davidson, who was killed in Afghanistan in September. He died only weeks before he was due home for the birth of his third child. The parade will pause at the town hall, where a one minute silence will be held in memory of Sgt Davison and other members of the Armed Forces who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this latest tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The parade starts at Churchfield at approximately 12.15pm. It will be led by the Band of Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai, and the 250 troops supported by military vehicles will make their way along Church Lane and Church Street to the town hall for speeches, a presentation and inspection, before the minutes silence is held.

• The parade will then march down Market Hill, into Queen Street, Cheapside, New Street, Wellington Street and Peel Square.

• It will then proceed into Queen Street for a second time and march through May Day Green, Eldon Street, Market Hill and Church Street

• Civic part to take salute outside the town hall.

• After being dismissed the troops will attend private reception hosted by the mayor

There is an opportunity to leave a message anywhere in the world in memory of fallen service men and women, by planting a virtual poppy at Barnsley libraries. The plant a virtual poppy website, run by the royal British Legion, can be accessed for free at any of the borough's libraries. For more information visit the Royal British Legion website http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/we-will-remember-them/plant-a-virtual-poppy/virtual-poppy