Mercian Regiment welcomed home after tour of duty - Holywood. Co. Down

01/08

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Mayor of North Down, Cllr James McKerrow, presents soldiers with regimental watches as they are welcomed home after a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

02/08

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Private Maguire is presented with a regimental watch after being injured during a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

03/08

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Mayor of North Down, Cllr James McKerrow, receives a gift of a picture as soldiers welcomed home after a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

04/08

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Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP for North Down, welcomes home soldiers to Palace Barracks, County Down, after a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

05/08

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Two soldiers admire their regimental watches, presented to them after being injured during a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

06/08

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Soldiers welcomed home to Palace Barracks, County Down, as they return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

07/08

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Soldiers welcomed home to Palace Barracks, County Down, as they return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

08/08

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Soldiers welcomed home to Palace Barracks, County Down, as they return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

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2 Mercian are welcomed home after their second tour of duty in Afghanistan since Palace Barracks, Holywood, County Down, became their home base.

The Mercian Regiment was formed on 1st September 2007 at Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire in presence of The Colonel in Chief, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

2 Mercian, based at Palace Barracks, Holywood, Northern Ireland, traces its history through the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment. Currently under command of 19 Light Brigade based at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn 2 Mercian transfers command when 19 Light Brigade is dissolved later this year under army re-structuring.

The Ram – Lance Corporal Derby – has been regimental mascot of the Mercian’s precedent Regiments dating back to the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment, the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) and the Worcester and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th). He marches at the head of the parade in coats carrying both regimental badges and Battle Honours. In fact the only record of a medal being presented to a Regimental Mascot was when Private Derby of the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment was awarded the Indian General Service Medal alongwith the rest of the Battalion on parade in Poona in 1862.