Soldiers on parade as town bestows Freedom honour on regiment

SOLDIERS MARCHED through a North Yorkshire town to receive a top honour recognising their role in the community.

A military parade was held yesterday as soldiers from the 6 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps were given the Freedom of Boroughbridge.

Roads were closed as hundreds of military personal gathered at the town’s Coronation Hall to take part in the bank-holiday Freedom Parade, which was accompanied by a marching band.

It was held 16 months after the regiment was moved from a base in Gutersloh, Germany, to RAF Dishforth, near Thirsk.

In the town square, Boroughbridge mayor Coun Peter Phillips presented the soldiers with their award on behalf of the town council.

Music at the day-long event was provided by the Royal British Legion Brass Band and families enjoyed a bouncy castle and an inflatable assault course.

The parade was inspected by Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Barry Dodd.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Crossland, the regiment’s Commanding Officer, said: “We as a regiment have forged strong links with our neighbours in Boroughbridge since we arrived and it is a great honour to have been invited to receive the freedom of the town.”

In November last year the regiment’s community centre and memorial garden was given a £40,000 boost to help develop a memorial garden in honour of soldiers.

More than 600 school children also took part in a gardening project launched by the Dishforth soldiers.

Yesterday’s parade followed the Dishforth Dash in March, a run organised by the regiment in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund, which supports soldiers, military veterans and their families.

The Army’s Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) was formed in 1993 and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2001.

The RLC provides equipment including vehicle parts, tools and ammunition, along with rations and water, by land, sea and air to all units in the Army.