EXACTLY four years after it began as a small gathering wanting to pay their respects to the fallen, the Headley Way ‘vigil’ will turn out again this week for our most recent fallen heroes.

The bodies of Lance Corporal James Ashworth from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, and Corporal Alex Guy of 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, will be repatriated into RAF Brize Norton tomorrow, before making their final journey to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

And standing sentinel, as always, at the last turn before the hospital, will be Jim Lewendon, 83, and the several hundred other former soldiers, British Legion members and members of the public, who turn out in all weathers to mark the soldiers’ way.

Tomorrow they will pay their respects to L Cpl Ashworth, who was killed in whilst defending his men in Afghanistan last Wednesday and Corp Guy who died trying to protect Afghan soldiers on Friday, June 15.

L Cpl Ashworth, 23, joined the Army at 17 and came from a strong lineage of soldiering: his father was a Grenadier, and one of his brothers, Coran aged 21, is serving with the Army in Northern Ireland.

His family said: “We are devastated by the loss of our son, brother, uncle and boyfriend. He meant the world to everyone and has left an irreplaceable hole in our hearts.”

Captain Mike Dobbin, Commander, Reconnaissance Platoon, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, said: “L Corp Ashworth was killed while fighting his way through compounds; leading his fire team from the front, whilst trying to protect his men and he showed extraordinary courage to close on a determined enemy.

“I am humbled by what I saw of L Corp Ashworth’s actions and will never forget him.”

Cpl Alex Guy, 37, from Norwich, had recently been selected as a sergeant but died before he could receive his promotion.

During his 19 years of service he deployed on no fewer than eight operational tours, including Bosnia, Iraq, three of Northern Ireland and three of Afghanistan.

He was leading his section forward to assist a group of Afghan soldiers who were pinned down by enemy fire when he was fatally wounded.

He leaves behind his wife, Emma, mother and father, Aileen and Andrew, and sisters Rebecca and Martha.

Cpl Guy’s wife, Emma, said: “Alex was kind. A happy, full-of-life and kind-hearted man, with a passion for his work and family.”

Mr Lewendon, who is 83 and from Headington, said: “Back in June 2008, myself and two other former servicemen, Ken White and Peter King, went down to Headley Way to salute the fallen as they passed. Our picture appeared in the Oxford Mail, and word spread, and the next week, 500 people turned up. It was astounding.

Mr Lewendon, who is county chairman of the Royal British Legion added: “I never would have dreamed we would still be here, four years on, but this Thursday will be our 137th repatriation and we will bid farewell to our 277th and 278th soldiers.

“It’s always a terrible and very emotional occasion. But personally it is now an important part of my life. And though it breaks my heart to see these youngsters’ coffins pass by, I feel immensely proud when the cortege approaches and a dignified silence falls on the crowd.

“We are sending them on their way in the best way we can and we will continue to do that until all this conflict is finally over.”

The plane carrying the soldiers’ bodies will land at Brize Norton at approximately 1.30pm and the cortege will pass the Memorial Garden in Carterton at around 4pm, reaching the John Radcliffe Hospital at around 5pm.