It was a homecoming to remember.

A light drizzling of rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of soldiers from 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps who returned home to their base at Colchester's Roman Barracks last night to be given an ecstatic welcome by their delighted families.

I missed you - L Cpl Frazer Mathias is greeted by his wife, Sara. Picture: NIGEL BROWN

Sporting suntans, the 70 soldiers hugged and kissed their wives and children, who have been waiting anxiously back home during the second Gulf War and the peace which followed it.

The soldiers, who are part of town-based 16 Air Assault Brigade, were among the first to arrive in Kuwait in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq by British and American troops.

They were responsible for supplying the logistics for the brigade, including water, rations, ammunition and fuel.

Later they were based around the Ramala oilfields before moving, as temperatures in Iraq soared, to the Maysan province.

They also helped set up distribution points for humanitarian aid and helped guard prisoners of war.

They have spent nearly two days travelling, flying out of Kuwait to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. A further 300 from the regiment are due home over the next few weeks.

Private Christopher Timmoney, 21, of Plymouth, told his dad, Peter, and step-mum, Marie: "It's brilliant to be home."

He described the heat in Iraq and the nuisance of mosquitoes.

He said he had missed his family and alcohol while he was away.

Staff Sergeant Ray Wright shared a hug and a kiss with his fiancee, Jilly Self. The couple are due to get married in August.

He said: "Iraq's pretty bleak really. But a lot of the locals were over the moon with us."

Published Monday, June 2, 2003

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