![Date 291111 Location: Dundee, Scotland
Photo caption: Scotland's senior Regiment the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards march through Dundee during their Homecoming Parade following a six-month tour in Afghanistan.
Photo by Mark Owens/HQ2Div
ARMY PRESS RELEASE
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Homecoming Parade in Dundee
Today [Tuesday, 29 November 2011] the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (SCOTS DG) held a Homecoming Parade to mark their return following a tough but successful tour of duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
In keeping with tradition dating back hundreds of years, the Regiment paraded through the streets of Dundee to show their thanks for the support that members of the public have shown them during their tour of duty.
The parade also gave Dundonians a chance to come out to show their appreciation to the Regiment for the hard work they have carried out during their tour of duty.
Many families and friends also turned out for the parade to show their appreciation and support for the troops.
Dundee is one of the RegimentÕs ÔFreedom CitiesÕ.
DundeeÕs Lord Provost Lord Provost John Letford said:
ÒIt was a real honour for Dundee to host this parade to give people the chance to show their appreciation to the soldiers of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. They received a warm welcome when they paraded through our city centre.Ó
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan ÔBartyÕ Bartholomew, Commanding Officer of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards commenting on the RegimentÕs return from its tour of duty and the Homecoming Parades said:
ÒThe Royal Scots Dragoon Guards were deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 14 from March to November 2011, one of several units to deploy alongside 3 Commando Brigade.
ÒIt was the first full regimental deployment to Afghanistan for SCOTS DG and the soldiers return home very proud of what they have achieved and of the immense contribution they have made.
ÒI am honoured to have had the privilege to command them. After a tough and long six months, t](https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/thecourier/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/04/image.jpg1_.17727.jpg)
Hundreds of people welcomed the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards this week as they held a homecoming parade through Dundee city centre to mark the end of their seven-month operational tour of Afghanistan.
Families, friends and well wishers lined the streets and burst into applause as the regiment, led by their famous pipes and drums, marched from the Cowgate along Panmure Street before turning on to Reform Street and into the City Square on Tuesday.
In keeping with tradition dating back hundreds of years, the regiment paraded through the city to show its thanks for the support that members of the public have shown it during its tour of duty.
Lord Provost John Letford, in his role as Lord Lieutenant of Dundee, was on hand to salute the soldiers as they passed by. He said: ”It is a real honour for Dundee to host this parade to give people the chance to show their appreciation to the soldiers of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.”
The regiment was deployed to the warzone in March. Soldiers served in the notorious Nad-e Ali and Lashkar Gah regions of Helmand province, carrying out a variety of different roles including mentoring the Afghan National Army.
Sergeant Major James Taylor, who has toured Afghanistan twice, said the appreciation shown by city residents meant a lot to the regiment.
He said: ”It was great to see so much support for the lads. Since I first went to Afghanistan in 2008, I have seen an improvement in the country. To return home and know people here appreciate that is very important to us.”
The Guards did not leave the conflict without casualties. In June, Craftsman Andrew Found was killed in an explosion near Adinza’i in the Gereshk Valley area.