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Poignant occasion as soldiers collect medals
A FISTFULL of £20 notes was thrust into the hand of one senior officer as the men of Delta Platoon were handed their Afghanistan campaign medals.
The gesture was made to Sgt Maj Gordon Archer by a patriotic punter during a midday parade at a sunkissed York Racecourse.
His instructions were to 'treat the lads'.
It seemed to capture the mood among race-goers as 26 soldiers from the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (4 Yorks) marched around The Parade Ring to rapturous applause.
Shoulder to shoulder they then accepted their silver medals with red, blue and white ribbons from their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel David Jones in front of family and friends.
It was an especially poignant occasion on Saturday as the British Army had just suffered its bloodiest 24 hours in Afghanistan with eight dead.
The Territorial Army platoon served a six-month tour providing force protection at the International Security Assistance Force's headquarters in Kabul.
Daily they would face the threat of suicide bomber or roadside bombs as they patrolled the city and provided armed escorts for military top brass to and from Kabul International Airport.
Lt Darren Thompson, who has returned to teaching in civilian life, said: "I am just thankful we got everybody back safely.
"We had good training, we were very professional and there is also that bit of luck. I'd like to think we had a bit of all three.
"At the same time our thoughts go out to the families who have lost love-ones."
The YEP spent a week with Delta Platoon in December and met Lance Corporal Mark Cowley from Castleford.
The 29-year-old was also at Saturday's parade to receive his medal while his wife Claire, 28, and son Alexander, one, looked on.
He said: "It was fantastic to come home and I've had a lot to do. First I got married, then I was best man for a mate's wedding and went on honeymoon.
"It's helped that I've already done tours of Iraq so I know what to expect coming back. I had a big period of operational leave and Claire was there to help me adjust."
The emotion of the day clearly got to the new Mrs Cowley who shed a few tears, albeit of relief.
She said: "It's nice they've done something like this, it rounds it off. But it also brings it all home to you. Now I just want to go for a drink!"
Like most of his colleagues, Lnc Cpl Cowley is back at the day-job working as a PVC window fabricator in Wakefield.
As for going back to Afghanistan, he replied: "If I get my call up papers then I get my calls up papers. But I'm just enjoying being back in England."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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