600 soldiers welcomed home to Salisbury 10.11.11
20A thanksgiving service has taken place in Salisbury cathedral, Wiltshire to welcome home 32 Regiment Royal Artillery known as the British Army's 'eye in the sky'. It marked the end of almost nine years of continuous deployment for one or more of the Regiment's Batteries in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. The 600 soldiers taking part included 120 men and women from 57 Battery who returned from Afghanistan just five days ago. It is the first time the Regiment has all got together in the UK since early 2003. 32 Regiment will now have a temporary respite for 6 months as the Army have another Unmanned Air System unit deployed in Afghanistan. The parade was led by Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Craig Palmer and accompanied by the Band of the Royal Artillery. The regiment invited by Salisbury City Council to hold the homecoming parade paid its compliments to the Mayor of Salisbury, Councillor John Abbott as it passed Salisbury Guildhall. Football World Cup winner 1966,Sir Geoff Hurst attended.