THE bodies of two soldiers from the region killed in Afghanistan have been returned to the UK.
Corporal Terry Webster, 24, from Blacon and Lance Corporal Alan Cochran, 23, from Pentre Halkyn, both of the 1st Battalion the Mercian Regiment, were flown into RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire yesterday.
After a private service for the families the bodies were driven through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett where hundreds of people lined the streets to pay their respects to the two men and to Marine Anthony Hotine, 21, and Lance Bombardier Mark Chandler, 32.
Cpl Webster and L/Cpl Cochran were both killed in a gunfight with insurgents while on foot patrol in the Helmand Province last Friday.
L/Cpl Cochran, who was due to marry his fiance Claire Brookshaw next year, was killed in action while Cpl Webster, a father of two, died later at a medical facility in Kandahar after sustaining a gunshot wound.
Following his death his wife Charlotte said: “Tez was passionate, loyal and determined.
“He enjoyed the role he had in the Mercians but he was a family man at heart. He was a fantastic dad to Jess and Liam and he was the perfect soul mate to me.
“Although this is a very sad time, Tez would want us to be positive.
“Remember the good times, the happy times. A lot of people's lives will be deeply affected by Tez's all too early departure. Life will never be the same for us.”
L/Cpl Cochran’s mother Shirley Cochran said: “Alan was a tremendous son.
“He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job he loved.
“We are devastated by the loss of Alan who was a loving son, grandson and brother.
"We are proud of the fact that Alan was prepared to do his duty helping the people of Afghanistan.”