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Around 80 soldiers based in Canterbury returned to joyous friends and family on Tuesday following a six month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Members of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) and territorial soldiers from the 3rd Batttalion the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, touched down at Manston Airport at lunchtime, before being transported by bus for an emotional reunion at the city’s Howe Barracks.

See our video at the top of the page

The members of D Company had spent months of fierce battles with the Taliban around the town of Musa Qala, in north west Helmand Province.

They routinely conducted four day operations against insurgents, the only company based in Helmand to operate at that pace. Another of their tasks was to help restore the Afghan National Police back to full patrols in the province’s many remote villages and settlements.

But Tuesday’s homecoming was tinged with sadness as it was without L Cpl James “Jimmy” Johnson.

On June 28, L Cpl Johnson was killed by a mine explosion as he took part in a vehicle checkpoint patrol in Lashkar Gar.

The battalion’s commanding officer, Lt Col David Richmond, 41, who had his right leg shattered by an insurgent’s bullet while on duty in Helmand Province on June 12, was present on the parade ground to welcome troops off the buses.

Standing on crutches and with an extensive brace on his right leg, Lt Col Richmond admitted it was a proud occasion: “It’s tremendous, a great day.

“It’s lovely to see the friends, the family and children meet up with their loved ones for the first time in some four or five months.

“But I think for all of us, we’re all very aware that not everybody came home, whether it be in our battalion or other ones, so they’re never far from our mind.”

Lt Col Richmond continues to undergo extensive rehabilitation at Headley Court Military Hospital in Epsom, Surrey.

The battalion were split into four companies across Helmand during their tour of duty. The last company are due to return to the country on Saturday.

Among those at Tuesday’s homecoming was ex-EastEnders actor Ross Kemp, who was working for Sky TV.

• For pictures from the homecoming, see this week’s Kentish Gazette.