Old soldiers parade through town

Former soldiers travelled from across the globe to parade through Oswestry and unveil a memorial to their comrades yesterday.

Infantrymen from dozens of regiments of the British Army travelled to Shropshire – some coming from other parts of the UK and others travelling from as far afield as Australia and the USA.

They braved torrential rain to march proudly through the streets of the town where they began their military careers.

Members of the Infantry Boys and Junior Leaders Battalion Association were remembering their time at the nearby Park Hall Army Camp.

The training battalion, where young soldiers underwent specialist leadership training, was based at Oswestry from 1960 until the mid 1970s.

Former mayor, Councillor Gareth Jones, deputised for Oswestry's mayor to perform the civic duties at the parade and dedicate the memorial in Cae Glas Park.

He said he had spoken to former infantrymen and "they were so proud to be back here and said it had been the place that had made them the men they are today".