Black Watch hold homecoming parade in Inverness

THE Black Watch, the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, paraded through the streets of Inverness yesterday after their return from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The 450 soldiers of the battalion played a major role in securing the Nad-e Ali district of Afghanistan during their deployment and joined Afghan security forces on a series of missions against the Taliban.

The parade was attended by Private Stephen Bainbridge, 25, who joined a crowd of more than 1,000 people, cheering as the soldiers marched through the streets of Inverness. Pte Bainbridge lost both legs during the most recent deployment. Also among the onlookers was the mother of Acting Sergeant Sean Binnie, 22, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009.