Soldiers march through town (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Soldiers march through town

9:46am Thursday 28th August 2008 in

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SOLDIERS taking part in a long distance march to highlight the bravery of armed forces personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan received an official welcome in Bishop's Waltham.

Dignitaries greeted the 30 soldiers who were nearing the end of their five-day route stretching 300 miles from Plymouth to London.

They were carrying a stretcher to symbolise all the services personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A union flag was draped over it, along with a scroll of honour carrying the names of those hurt during the two campaigns.

The march, tackled by soldiers based in Dorset and Surrey, is designed to raise money for the Help for Heroes charity.

Residents of Bishop's Waltham saluted their efforts when they arrived there last Thursday (August 21).

Vice Admiral Sir James Weatherall and the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Michael Read, were also there to greet them.

Cllr Stephen Miller, who chairs Bishop's Waltham Parish Council, was present as well.

The march, from the Royal Citadel in Plymouth to the Tower of London, was designed to follow the old admiralty shutter telegraph route.

It was used to relay messages from the Devonshire port to the capital, and passed through Hampshire.

Dubbed Exercise Mercury's March, it was named after the cap badge emblem of the Royal Signals.