MORE than 1,000 people are expected to turn out across Oxfordshire for today’s repatriation of six soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Sgt Nigel Coupe, of 1st Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, and Corporal Jake Hartley, Private Anthony Frampton, Private Christopher Kershaw, Private Daniel Wade and Private Daniel Wilford, all from 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s), died when their Warrior armoured personnel carrier was destroyed in an explosion on March 6.
The plane carrying their bodies will land at RAF Brize Norton at about 1.30pm. The cortege will pass the memorial garden on the edge of Carterton between 4.30pm and 5pm and arrive at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital at about 6pm.
Carterton’s mayor Norman MacRae said: “We’re expecting more people than normal. It’s no more sad than any other repatriation, but because it’s six at once it will be more emotional.”
He added: “It has never been about the numbers. It has always been about allowing the public to pay their respects to the Fallen and support the families by turning out.”
For up-to-date information on the repatriation later today, see oxfordmail.co.uk
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