PUPILS from St John’s on-the-Hill School were invited to support 1Rifles’ recent homecoming parade at Beachley Barracks.

At the parade the children waved flags and cheered on the troops as they marched on the parade ground and were presented with awards for their outstanding work in Iraq.

The Battalion has been deployed in Iraq since August 2015, where they have been training the Iraqi and Kurdish security forces to fight and defeat the Da’esh.

Ruth Frett, headteacher of St John’s on-the-Hill, said: “We have a long tradition of supporting the 1Rifles and it is a privilege to attend their parades and show our appreciation for their bravery and hard work.

“The pupils were particularly thrilled to meet the Commanding Officer of 1Rifles, Charlie Grist, and Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, the commanding general of the United States Army Europe, who took time to chat with St John’s pupils about how the troops play an important role in keeping Britain secure.”

Commanding Officer Charlie Grist, said: “It is excellent to get such enthusiastic support from St John’s as it’s important that we reach-out so that children can understand what the army does. I also thought the children’s marching was brilliant.”