Rayleigh and Wickford MP and Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois, recently attended a special parade in Westminster when elements of the last combat troops to leave Afghanistan marched through Carriage Gates and into Westminster Hall, to be thanked by MPs for their service in that conflict.
Mark was joined by the Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon MP, as well as several other MPs, peers and their staff to watch the homecoming parade, which marked the safe return of 102 Logistics Brigade and 20th Armoured Brigade who were the final formations of combat troups to deploy in Afghanistan.
The returning troops were address by James Gray MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces and also by the Secretary of State, before being given refreshments on the House of Commons Terrace and being taken on a tour of Parliament.
Commenting on the homecoming parade, Mark said:
"We have run a series of these homecoming parades over the years to thank troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan for their service. Now that we have withdrawn our combat troops that country this will be the last homecoming parade at Westminster relating to that conflict. We are incredibly proud of the contribution our troops have made by helping to support the Afghans in their battle against terrorism and by so doing helping to protect us from terrorism at home as well. Our troops have done a great job and it was only right that we as Parliamentarians took the opportunity to thank them for what they have achieved."