FOR Carl Alford, the applause he and scores of his Territorial Army colleagues received on Saturday helped to put a perspective on their service and sacrifices.

Rifleman Alford - a member of 7 Rifles, from Northway, in Oxford - served in Afghanistan this year and in Iraq in 2005 and was one of about 150 TA soldiers who paraded at Christ Church to celebrate the TA's 100th anniversary.

There was applause from hundreds of onlookers and, for the 23-year-old, who works at Lucy's, in Thame, it showed his service was appreciated by the people of his home city.

After being watched on parade by his grandmother Brenda Cooper, mother Judith Alford, brother Robert Gunning, aunt Sharon Talbot and four-year-old cousin Amie Talbot, he said: "It's quite important these days because a lot of lads aren't really getting the respect they deserve.

"A lot of guys - TA and regulars - are coming home injured from tours and are not getting recognised. This is part of the way to do that.

"It's a good morale boost."

Mrs Alford said: "It brought a tear to my eye when they marched. Whenever he has marched before, he has not been able to wear his medals. This was the first time - so that was nice."

Onlookers waved flags and cheered as the servicemen and women marched on the Broad Walk in front of Christ Church, accompanied by the Waterloo Band of the Rifles regiment.

The parade followed a 40-minute service at Christ Church Cathedral. Giving the sermon, Army chaplain Stephen Robbins said: "If society, despite its many faults, is worth living in, it is worth defending - defending intellectually, defending spiritually, and if necessary, defending physically."

Among the five units on parade were members of 7 Rifles, based at Slade Park barracks, in Headington, Oxford, who returned from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan three weeks ago.

Rifleman Anthony Facciol, from Elizabeth Jennings Way, in North Oxford, was watched by his partner Annie Thompson, as he took part in the march.

The 38-year-old, who also works for Lucy's, said: "Today was very important. It showed how many years the Territorial Army's been going for and what's involved and what people have done for their country."

Health trainer Miss Thompson, 43, said: "I felt really proud, really chuffed to see him there. I thought he looked really smart - they all did."

The event involved troops and cadets from the 5th (Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars) Signal Squadron, A Company of 7th Battalion The Rifles, D Detachment 202 Field Hospital, Oxford University Officer Training Corps and the Oxfordshire County Army Cadet Force.

The troops were inspected by the Lord Lieutenant for Oxfordshire, Hugo Brunner, before he took the salute at the parade.

He told them people of Oxfordshire were grateful for the sacrifices they had made and added: "Your families have also endured your absences and been anxious for your safety and your employers too have had to manage at work without you."

After the parade, a reception was held in Oxford Town Hall for 300 dignitaries, members of the TA and their families, cadets and members of the Royal British Legion.

The celebration was part of a national programme of events marking the organisation's centenary.

Deborah Francis, from Wheatley, was one of only three women from 7 Rifles to serve in Afghanistan on the latest tour.

She said: "It was also good to recognise the achievements of soldiers in the past - everyone who has given up their time and made the ultimate sacrifice over the 100 years."

Warrant Officer Jock Green, an oil rig worker from Garsington, who took part in the parade with fellow members of the 202 Field Hospital, said: "It's good to see people are actually supporting us and what we do."