Soldiers who served in Afghanistan are staging a homecoming parade next week.

The 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers will parade through Balham town centre next Wednesday.

About 170 officers and soldiers, of the regiment's Z company, will set off from Balham Leisure Centre and travel along Elmfield Road.

They will continue along Bedford Hill, continuing towards the Fusilier House army reserve centre in Balham High Road.

The Fusilers were created on St George's Day in 1968 as a result of the merger of the Royal Fusilers, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers and the Lancashire Fusiliers.

They wear a distinctive red and white hackle in their beret, serving most recently in the Balkans, both Iraq wars and Afghanistan.

Battlefield engineers, trained in the use of demolitions, mines and power tools, are based in the assault pioneer platoon in Balham High Road.

The regiment's ties with the area means they actively recruit officers from across Wandsworth.

Leader of the council, Councillor Ravi Govindia, said: "We are very proud of our links to this illustrious and historic regiment and were delighted to be asked to host this homecoming parade.

"We all owe our armed forces an enormous debt for their courage, bravery and dedication and for the sacrifices they have made in our name.

"This will be our chance to salute these fusiliers and show them how much they mean to us."

The parade is set to start at 1pm.

Temporary road blocks on roads feeding into the parade will be put in place from 12.50pm.

Parking bays along Bedford Hill and Balham High Road will be temporarily suspended along the route between 6am and 2pm on the day.

 

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