SOLDIERS have honoured the lives of friends and colleagues lost during a recent tour of Afghanistan in a service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving in York Minster today. (Thursday, May 2.)

The service was attended by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu and the Armed Forces Minister Andrew Robathan MP, along with hundreds of Armed Forces personnel.

The 4th Mechanized Brigade, which has its headquarters in Catterick Garrison, suffered nine deaths while deployed between October last year and April, and family members of injured soldiers and the bereaved attended to honour the life and service of loved ones.

Brigadier Bob, Bruce who led the Task Force said: “This is a very special day for those of us who were deployed to Afghanistan over the last six months.

“The professionalism and bravery of the soldiers and marines of the 4th Mechanized Brigade has been both astonishing and humbling.

“They achieved a huge amount during our tour of duty and I am enormously proud of them. It is important for us now to remember our fallen and the wounded as well as to mark our achievements.”

The 4th Mechanized Brigade worked alongside other nations in Afghanistan in changing the way in which security is provided in Helmand with the Afghan National Security Forces.

Military representatives from the US, Danish and Estonian Armies will also attend the service led by the Rev Canon Peter Moger assisted by military clergy.

The preacher was the Chaplain General to Her Majesty’s Land Forces, the Rev Jonathan Woodhouse and a blessing was given by the Archbishop of York.

The Archbishop of York said: “Too often we forget the important peacekeeping role our forces play on the international stage – they have an incredibly tough job, but never flinch from doing their duty.”