Back on home soil — Worthing soldiers to start ceremonial role

SWAPPING their desert combats for ceremonial service dress, three soldiers from Worthing have returned from overseas to begin a very prestigious role.

Private Reece Gregson, Private Christopher French and Private Will Judd, who serve with the 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (2 PWRR), began their ceremonial duties in London on Tuesday.

The duties involve guarding the Queen and her property outside Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and The Tower of London.

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The three soldiers and their battalion have returned to the UK after five years overseas, which included a two-and-a-half year posting in Cyprus preceded by two and a half years in Northern Ireland.

In Cyprus, 2 PWRR formed the Theatre Reserve Battalion from June last year until this August, where it deployed groups of 120 personnel to support combat operations in Afghanistan.

The battalion has now taken over the public duties role in central London from The Royal Fusiliers and are based for the next two years at the newly-refurbished Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.

Former pupil at Durrington High School, Private Gregson, 19, said: “It’s great to be back home after my posting in Cyprus. I missed family and friends very much. I spent two months in Afghanistan but am looking forward to taking up the ceremonial duties now I am back in the UK.”

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Private French, 24, attended Angmering High School and Worthing College before joining the Army two years ago. He said: “I am looking forward to seeing more of my friends and family, and having the weekends off. Cyprus was fun, there was a good selection of adventure training and the weather was an added bonus.”

The third soldier from Worthing, 19-year-old Private Judd, is a former St Andrew’s High School pupil and has completed one tour of duty in Afghanistan during his military career.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Adam Crawley, said: “As a battalion, it is an honour to be taking up the public duties role in London on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.

As a regiment, we recruit our soldiers from across London and the south east of England, so to have a posting back in the UK is not only welcomed by the troops but also by their families and friends, who will be getting to see a lot more of them.”

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