SOLDIERS from across the country will gather in the region later this week to remember comrades who lost their lives in Afghanistan.

The arrival of two dusty memorial plaques at the Army headquarters in Catterick Garrison prompted senior officers to organise a dedication service at the base's Memorial Church.

The plaques were made to commemorate the soldiers of 4 Mechanized Brigade who lost their lives during two campaigns in Afghanistan - Herrick 12 and Herrick 17.

They were initially installed at the British Army base in Lashkar Gah, before being moved to Camp Bastion.

The plaques were taken down and sent back to the UK when British troops pulled out of Afghanistan last year.

Brigadier Charlie Herbert, commander of 4th Infantry Brigade, which was previously known as 4th Mechanized Brigade (4 Mech Bde), said: "These two rather weather-beaten plaques turned up from Afghanistan out of the blue and we needed to find an appropriate place to for them to stay in perpetuity."

Between 150 and 200 people are expected to attend the service of dedication for the plaques on Friday, February 27.

Representatives of all the units which made up 4 Mech Bde during the two campaigns have been invited, including many which are are based in the region such as the Queen's Royal Lancers, 1st Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and 1st Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

The British Army lost 453 soldiers in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014, with 4 Mech Bde suffering more than 50 fatalities during Operation Herrick 12 in 2010 and nine during Herrick 17 from October 2012 to April 2013.

Brig Herbert said the base was treating the plaques with the respect they deserved.

"Looking back now my overwhelming emotion is one of pride - pride at the commitment, determination and sacrifice of those who served.

"It's been said before but these were ordinary people doing extraordinary things in really difficult circumstances."

The commander said he wanted to put on record his thanks to members of the public for their support during the conflict.

"We are really grateful for that backing throughout the campaign in particular from the people of the North-East and Yorkshire.

"The support our families received was absolutely stupendous and the support of our injured was then, and is now, extraordinary."

Brig Herbert said a week never went by when he did not think about those who never returned from Afghanistan.

"Personally, I lost people in Herrick 12 and 17 and you never forget them," he added.