THOUSANDS of friends, family and well-wishers lined the streets of Exeter yesterday to cheer on troops who recently returned from a gruelling tour of Afghanistan.

About 700 service personnel marched through the city as onlookers applauded and waved flags and banners, in direct contrast to protesters jeering at Westcountry marines as they marched through Westminster on Tuesday.

The Duke of Edinburgh took the salute at the city's Guildhall before the parade carried on to the cathedral where about 1,600 people attended a special service of thanksgiving.

The servicemen and women who took part in the parade were from a dozen units which returned from Operation Herrick 9 in Helmand Province.

Their mission ran from September 2008 to March 2009 and claimed the lives of 32 troops. A roll call of those who lost their lives was read out during the memorial service.

Exeter

parade filmed by the WMN's Mike Brown

Yesterday's event was marked by greater sadness as the news of more deaths in Afghanistan were announced.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, who watched the parade before attending the memorial service, paid tribute to the most recent men to lose their lives.

The march was led by Brigadier Gordon Messenger, Commander of Task Force Helmand Herrick 9, who said the most recent deaths were a "telling reminder" there were still many out in Afghanistan facing the same challenges his troops had.

Speaking before the parade, he said the event was the first, and possibly only, time everyone involved in the operation had come together since they arrived home. It was an opportunity for the troops to both the celebrate their return and remember those who did not make it back, he said.

Brig Messenger said the celebratory event was important for those who were deployed as well as those on the "home front" who supported their loved ones while they were away.

He added that it was also crucial for servicemen to see the support of the general public, which he thought was at a "high ebb".

"You can't overstate how important knowing that you have the support of the broader public is to your morale," he said.

Major Marcus Taylor, 38, who serves with the Commando Logistics Regiment, based in North Devon, said it was a "very proud day".

He said: "We greatly value the opportunity to thank the community for their support of us whilst we've been away."

Maj Taylor, who lives in Totnes, said he thought the general level of public "recognition and support" for the military involvement in Afghanistan was very good and he added knowing this made a real difference to troops.

He said those marching through the city would also be remembering their comrades who did not make it home and, referring to the soldiers who died this week in Afghanistan, he said: "We feel the loss of every single one."

Colour Sergeant Chris Kurkham, of Exeter-based 1 Rifles, said it was important for the troops to see the country recognised the sacrifices they had made serving in Afghanistan.

C/Sgt Kurkham, 36, said: "We did unfortunately lose people during the tour and this is a recognition of the sacrifice the lads made."

Marine Duncan Potts, 21, from Exeter, said troops would also be thinking about personnel still in Afghanistan.

Members of Army, Navy and Marine units, including Danish troops, 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles and the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, based in Cyprus, took part in the parade.

It was led by the Band of the Royal Marines, from Lympstone. Cheers went up from the crowds who had flocked to the route as the troops marched past.

Pamela and Tony Luscombe, who live in Exeter, were among the well-wishers and said they had wanted to watch the parade simply to show their support for the men and women.

Mr Luscombe, 80, said: "We support the men, not the campaign – I'm not altogether sure we're doing the right thing out there."

Despite his reservations about the military operation in Afghanistan, Mr Luscombe said he thought the troops needed the public to show its backing.

Bill De-Lar, 71, an ex-corporal in the Royal Marines, said he had travelled from Plymouth with his family and they felt "let down" by the decision to hold the parade in Exeter rather than Plymouth.

He said: "I 100 per cent think it should have been in Plymouth. Plymouth is the home of the Royal Marines. Plymouth barracks are one of the oldest barracks in the country, we have a better venue than Exeter can ever produce – we have wider streets, the Royal Parade and the grandest view in the country: Plymouth Hoe."

However, he said he would have attended the parade wherever it was.

His wife Betty, 68, added: "The lads and the girls deserve it."

She said the family had lost friends in Afghanistan and the parade was "an inspiration".

The parade ended on Cathedral Green, where the troops fell out to meet up with family and friends before going into the service.

Major Adam Crawford, 36, of 42 Commando, was accompanied by his wife Bella and their seven-month-old baby, Harry, who was born while Maj Crawford was in Afghanistan.

The family live near Launceston, North Cornwall.

Throughout the morning, Maj Crawford said people had been coming up to him and his wife to offer kind words.

"There's a genuine feeling of well-wishing," he said.

Mrs Crawford said the event was "wonderful" and made her feel very proud. She said she thought it was a good opportunity for the public to recognise the work the troops had done and show its appreciation.

Although the service was for invited guests, others gathered in Cathedral Green to watch it live on a big screen.

Among them were Charlotte Fox, 24, who had travelled from Newton Abbot with her mother, Shirley Taper, 54.

Miss Fox's boyfriend is a soldier based at Colchester, who returned from Afghanistan in October. "Everybody should come out and support the troops if they can," she said.

They were joined by Julia Bailey, 50, from Plymouth.

Ms Bailey's 23-year-old daughter, Zoe, is serving in Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery.

"I'm not a worrier but if something happens, then you worry," she said.

She said she would have come to cheer on the troops even if her daughter was not in the armed forces.