“The strength of the day will be made by the number of people that turn out for the repatriation.”

Those were the words of Royal British Legion member Steve Radband as he urged Oxfordshire residents to support today’s repatriation.

It will be the first ceremony from RAF Brize Norton, which officially took over the solemn duty from RAF Lyneham last week.

Sergeant Barry Weston, of 42 Commando Royal Marines, was killed by a bomb in Afghanistan on August 30. The plane carrying his body will land at Brize Norton at 3pm and the cortege is expected to leave the base through Britannia Gate sometime after 4pm.

It will then make an expected 40-minute journey to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Mr Radband said: “It is a big moment for Oxfordshire and we need to get this right.

“I would like to see as many people as possible turn out.We need to give support to the family and to Sgt Weston.”

Mr Radband, whose son, David, 25, is on his third tour of Afghanistan, will be responsible for looking after Sgt Weston’s family during the repatriation.

He said: “We will make sure they get what they need, from tea and coffee to wheelchair help for elderly relatives.”

But he added: “I am expecting my role to be difficult because I have got a son still in Afghanistan.

“But even when I did not do this role, I still had a lump in my throat every time the hearse went past.”

The cortege will drive past a purpose-built memorial garden in Norton Way, on the edge of Carterton, where people will be able to stand and pay their respects.

People will also be able to stand on the wide verges of Monahan Way in Carterton. Groups are also expected to gather all along the route.

One of those groups will be residents of Eynsham, who plan to stand at The Evenlode pub on the A40.

Eynsham resident Pamela Powell has been putting posters up around the village to encourage people to attend.

She said: “We wanted to pay our respects at The Evenlode and we thought it would be nice if some of the other villagers were to go there as well.

“These personnel are fighting for us and I think it is terribly sad when they come home like this, but it is nice to be there and appreciate what they have done for us.”

People attending the memorial garden should park in Northwood Crescent. There will be sign posts and stewards directing traffic.