Gunners return home to heroes' welcome

Apr 29 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

BRAVE soldiers last night returned home from a tour of Afghanistan to embrace their loved ones for the first time in six months.

At Albemarle Barracks in Northumberland, families and friends welcomed home the gunners from the 56 Olpherts Battery, 39 Regiment Royal Artillery who have spent the last six months based at Camp Bastion in the Helmand province.

Having missed Christmas, New Year and Easter during their stint on the front-line, they were given a heroes’ welcome.

More than 10 members of Sergeant Brian Riding’s family welcomed home the father-of-three from Barnston, Ashington, Northumberland, who celebrated his 35th birthday 2,500-miles away from his family. His children wore T-shirts emblazoned with welcome back slogans and happy birthday well-wishes.

And his wife, Tamara, 33, said: “The turmoil has been awful for all of us, especially the kids, because he wasn’t here at Christmas. It’s the most difficult when you see something on the news because you don’t know who is involved or what has happened.”

Meanwhile the childhood sweetheart of Gunner Andrew Christie, 22, from Southwick, Sunderland, was desperate to see him. Louise Loughlin, 21, from Monkwearmouth in Sunderland, said: “It’s just great to see him.”

Staff Sergeant Treverr Beynon, 33, from Whitley Bay, was looking forward to seeing his one-year-old son, Ethan, his wife Jo, 33, and returning to home comforts.

He said: “It’s been a busy six months but I’m glad to be back. I missed my son’s first birthday and his first Christmas.”