A 188-YEAR-OLD Army regiment has thanked the residents of a city for their support after leaving its barracks for the final time.

Major Mike Treffry-Kingdom has presented the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Mick Stanley, with a 15 Field Squadron (Search) 36 Engineer Regiment banner as a token of thanks for everything the city has done for the soldiers and families.

The squadron, which had been based at Claro Barracks, was disbanded in November as part of a Government drive to reduce the size of the Army from 102,000 to 82,000 soldiers.

One of the squadron's first tasks, from 1826 to 1832, was to help defend Canada by building the Rideau Canal, which later became a Unesco World Heritage Site.

During the First World War, one of its soldiers, Lieutenant General Philip Neame, was awarded the Victoria Cross for a single-handed bombing attack on Germans and during the Second World War the squadron landed on Sword Beach, Normandy, with the first wave of troops on D-Day.

Major Treffry-Kingdom said: “Not everywhere where the Army is based receives such a warm welcome and continuous support as demonstrated by Ripon.”

Coun Stanley said: “It is sad to see 15 Field Squadron leave the city after such a long and successful time based in Claro Barracks, and we wish the soldiers and their families well for their future.”