“THEY have given their life for the country and therefore they should be supported.”

Those were the words of Royal British Legion Oxfordshire chairman Mike Henderson, who last night called for residents to support the first repatriation at RAF Brize Norton.

The base has now taken over the solemn duty from RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire and the next repatriation to return to the UK will come to Oxfordshire. That could be as soon as Thursday.

Mr Henderson said 2,000 people could attend.

He said: “Without a shadow of a doubt the families of fallen service personnel appreciate the support.”

A memorial garden has been built in Norton Way, Carterton, for people to gather to pay their respects.

It aims to replicate the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett, where about 2,000 people gathered for each repatriation from RAF Lyneham, which will officially close on September 1.

Norton Way will be closed to traffic during the repatriations and the cortege will stop along the road, as it did in Wootton Bassett.

But people are expected to stand all along the cortege route to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where port mortem examinations will be held.

Royal British Legion Ox-fordshire vice-president Jim Lewendon said he and about 200 others would continue to pay respects at Headley Way, Headington, Oxford.

He said: “I’m sure there will be people lining the streets all along the route.”

Brize Norton Parish Council chairman Keith Glazier said: “I feel sure people will wish to show their respects and I think it’s important to do so. These young people will have died in service to their country and are deserving of the full support of the people of the country.” But he added: “There is only limited space for people to stand in Brize Norton village, so we are trying to encourage everyone to go to Norton Way.”

Group Captain Dom Stamp, RAF Brize Norton station commander, said: “I think paying respect is an individual choice and should be left to the individual.

“But It is a source of great pride to know that what we are doing is recognised, and supported in our time of greatest need.”

Wing Commander Adrian Bettridge, repatriations project manager, said: “It’s up to the individual people whether they pay respect or not.

“But I think all the people of the armed services take great comfort from the fact they clearly have support from people all over the country.”