Mercian Regiment to march through Chesterfield

As the phased withdrawal of troops from the war zone gathers pace, a battalion which has lost 11 soldiers since the start of the conflict has returned home for the last time and paraded through the streets of Chesterfield.

The infantry battalion of the second Mercian has seen some of the fiercest fighting on the battlefields and paid a high price. David Hirst was in Chesterfield for todays march past.:

Soldiers from one of the most highly decorated battalions in the Army have been given a heroes welcome in Chesterfield today as they exercised their freedom of the town.

Infantry battalion 2nd Mercian marched through the streets just months after the last of four deployments in Afghanistan where they went toe-to-toe with the Taliban.

Major Tom Kelly says his men should be proud of their time in the conflict:

Members of 2nd battalion The Mercian Regiment prepare to exercise their freedom of Chesterfield. The battalion is one of the most highly decorated in the Army.

It has completed four tours of Afghanistan and has seen six soldiers die in the conflict, including Private Matthew Haseldin, who was killed in 2011.

Among the VIP guests at today's symbolic event is the Duchess of Devonshire

2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment will exercise their freedom of the borough of Chesterfield later, by parading through the town.

The Duchess of Devonshire, the Lord Lieutenant, Mr William Tucker, and Chesterfield's Mayor, Cllr Paul Christopher Stone will be present.

Chesterfield residents are also invited to line the streets by 10:10am for a 10:20am start outside the Town Hall.

Before the parade, the Duchess of Devonshire will present a new ram, the regimental mascot - known as Private Derby - to the regiment on behalf of the Duke of Devonshire.

The salute will be taken on the Town Hall steps by the Lord Lieutenant, Mr William Tucker and Chesterfield's Mayor, Councillor Paul Christopher Stone.

Councillor Graham King, Chesterfield Borough Council's executive member for governance, said:

"2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment is made up of many local young people and this is an opportunity for our residents to come along and show how much they appreciate the work of our armed forces."

The Mercian Regiment was granted freedom of entry to Chesterfield borough in December 2007 and has previously paraded in the town in March 2008 and March 2010.