Freedom honour for the 3 Rifles in second borough (From The Northern Echo)

Freedom honour for the 3 Rifles in second borough

8:26am Friday 10th September 2010 in News

THOUSANDS of people waved Union flags and cheered as 3 Rifles battalion was given the freedom of their second North- East borough this week.

One hundred and fifty proud soldiers received rapturous applause as they marched through Stockton’s High Street yesterday.

Led by The Bands and Bugles of The Rifles, the battalion came to a halt next to the town hall for an inspection by Stockton Mayor Colin Leckonby and Deputy Colonel Commandant Brigadier Justin Maciejewski.

The 3 Rifles battalion follows in the footsteps of the 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards), who received a similar welcome in June, when its soldiers were also given the Freedom of the Borough following a tour of Afghanistan.

The honour of the Freedom of the Borough for 3 Rifles was confirmed with a scroll presented to Deputy Colonel Maciejewski.

In return, the brigadier gave the mayor a silver bugle, a symbol of 3 Rifles, as a thank-you for the town’s support.

Deputy Colonel Maciejewski said: “Our work is so much easier knowing we have the support of towns like Stockton.

“The regiment has received the Freedom of the Borough in Darlington and will receiving the Freedom of Borough of Sunderland later this week. It is a wonderful week for us.

“We are enormously grateful for this honour and we look forward to a long and strong relationship with the Borough of Stockton.”

Councillor Leckonby said it was wonderful to see so much support from members of the public.

He said: “It is a special day for Stockton and Rifles.

“It is such a lovely thing that we can show our appreciation for past and present members of 3 Rifles, who continue to put their lives on the line. I am delighted to confirm the freedom of entry to the borough for ceremonial occasions.”

3 Rifles served in Afghanistan between October last year and April this year, and 30 of its soldiers died.

Due to the historical links with the Durham Light Infantry, 3 Rifles recruits from the North-East and North Yorkshire.