Coldstream Guards' 400-mile march on London to support Afghan heroes

Yesterday, 100 troops from No7 Company of the Coldstream Guards defied freezing weather and started out on a trek re-enacting Gen Monck's journey in an effort to raise money for comrades wounded in Afghanistan.

Gen Monck led his men, formerly part of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army during the English Civil War, on the march to Westminster.

Yesterday, the brave 100 were given a rousing send-off as they were escorted to Coldstream Bridge by the Old Coldstream Corps of Drums on the first leg of their journey to Berwick-on-Tweed.

Before embarking, the regiment, which was effectively founded by Gen Monck, had to be granted permission to march by their colonel, Brigadier Jonathan Bourne-May.

Captain Mark Hayhurst, organiser, said: "We are on our way. There is a good foot of snow on the ground, but it is very picturesque. We have had to be more direct in our approach. Rather than going through the country, we are just using the main road.

"Morale is high, the sun is shining, and we are just cracking on with it," he said.

"The main thing for morale will be getting to know each other a lot better. Quite a few of the soldiers will be deployed to Afghanistan in the next few months, so when things get difficult there they can be up to the mark."

Cpt Hayhurst, who said his men appreciated the "phenomenal" effort by Scottish Borders Council to grit the High Street at the start of their route, added: "We've got all the equipment we need – our feet. We are robust enough to deal with the snow and will be wearing standard issue army boots."

The 425-mile march will take them through Berwick, Newcastle, Durham, York, Selby, Doncaster, Worksop, Mansfield, Loughborough, Market Harborough in Leicestershire, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Dunstable, St Albans, Barnet and Woolwich in London.

They will be met in London on 30 January by General Sir Richard Dannatt, the former chief of the General Staff.

The march is expected to take about 25 days, with soldiers covering about 25 miles each day, walking eight to nine hours with breaks for meals. They will sleep in Territorial Army accommodation, but spend five nights in tented camps.

Guardsman Richard Ross, 24, from Swinton, near Coldstream, whose duties include standing guard outside Buckingham Palace, said he had volunteered to go on the march to do something for comrades needing support on their return from Afghanistan.

He added: "I've served in Afghanistan and I'm doing this so others can get on with a normal life, especially those who have lost limbs."

"It's also a way of keeping fit and will be an achievement. "

Describing the weather conditions at the start of the march, he said: "The snow was quite deep. A few cars looked as though they hadn't moved for some time."

Guardsman Stephen Allan, 24, from Newcastle, said: "I'm doing this to give more awareness and raise support for those coming home from Afghanistan.

"I've seen a few householders this morning digging their way out of their doorways, but I'm not bothered about the weather. We had snow in Afghanistan when I was there for six months in 2007-8."

• Donations for the Army Benevolent Fund and Coldstream charity, helping those injured in recent wars, can be made on www.justgiving.com/coldstreammarch.

VC HERO KILLED BY SNIPER'S BULLET

SOLDIERS of the Coldstream Guards have been honoured for their bravery in many conflicts resulting in a total of 13 Victoria Crosses and one George Cross – the British Army's highest honours.

Among the heroes was Captain Ian Oswald Liddell, pictured left, who was awarded the Victoria Cross on 3 April, 1945 for defusing German bombs on a bridge in Germany. He was killed by a sniper on 21 April.

The London Gazette described how Cpt Liddell, 44, ran forward alone to the bridge and scaled the 10ft high road block guarding it, with the intention of taking the bridge intact.

Having disconnected the charges on the far side, he re-crossed the bridge and cut the wires on the near side. It was necessary for him to kneel, forming an easy target, whilst he cut the wires.

He then discovered there were charges underneath the bridge and he also disconnected these. He then climbed up in full view of the enemy, signalled his leading platoon to advance, and the way was cleared for the advance across the River Ems.

Cpt Liddell died of wounds subsequently received in action.

In addition to the VC, he received the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, and the Defence and War Medals