1st Battalion The Royal Welsh soldiers march through Chester before leaving for tour of Afghanistan

Oct 1 2009 by Michael Green, Wrexham Chronicle

CHESTER city centre was the setting for a march by the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh on Friday, prior to its departure for Afghanistan.

The event was part of the battalion’s physical training preparation and was the culmination of an eight-mile march.

The finishing point was outside Chester Town Hall, where there were a number of military stands demonstrating some of the Army’s current operational capabilities as well as information about the battalion and regiment.

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Lock, commanding officer, said: “My aim was to raise awareness in Chester of the battalion’s upcoming Afghanistan tour and emphasise the operational nature of our deployment and give the public an opportunity to engage with their locally based battalion.”

Later Lt Col Lock held a curry lunch at the Dale Barracks for a group of guests.