Swansea people will have the chance to welcome home some of our hero soldiers next week.
The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards are taking part in a Homecoming Parade on Monday March 8 having just returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan.
It’s one of several parades being held in Welsh towns and cities throughout the month.
Swansea’s Homecoming Parade leaves from the side of the LC at 12.15pm before making its way along Princess Way to Castle Square where the Regiment will be inspected at 12.30pm by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan Byron Lewis and Lord Mayor of Swansea Cllr Alan Lloyd.
The Welsh Guards will then leave Castle Square at 12.45pm and march to the Guildhall via Oxford Street, Lower Oxford Street, Dilwyn Street and St Helen’s Road.
Mr Lewis and Cllr Lloyd will be on the steps of the Brangwyn Hall to take a salute from the soldiers before the parade finishes at 1.15pm.
A reception and a presentation will end proceedings.
The Welsh Guards have had a long relationship with Swansea since it was granted Honorary Freedom on September 15, 1948.
The Homecoming Parade will allow the soldiers to exercise that freedom.
The Regiment will have a stand at Castle Square during the event and the BBC Big Screen will broadcast images from their tour of Afghanistan and recruiting DVD.
Cllr Lloyd said: “The Welsh Guards have strong links with the Swansea area and many local people have served with the Regiment over the years.
“This parade gives the people of Swansea the chance to show their gratitude to the young troops who do so much to protect the freedom and values that we all hold sacred.
“I’d urge people to come along and show the Welsh Guards how proud we are of them.”
In the summer of 2009 the Welsh Guards took part in some of the fiercest fighting Afghanistan’s Helmand province has ever seen in support of 19 Brigade during Operation Panther’s Claw.
Some of their most significant achievements included clearing the Taliban from strongholds in areas such as Babaji while building relationships with the local people and allowing businesses, schools, mosques and roads to be rebuilt.
