Military veterans saluted as the bodies of four soldiers killed in Afghanistan arrived at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital today.

The cortege arrived in the city at 4pm, after travelling from RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

The four soldiers – Sgt Ben Ross , 34, of 3rd Regt Royal Military Police; Cpl Kumar Pun, 31, of 1st Bn Royal Gurkha Rifles; Rfn Adrial Sheldon, 25, of 2nd Bn The Rifles; and Cpl Sean Binnie, 22, of The Black Watch, 3rd Bn Royal Regiment of Scotland – were killed last week.

Jim Lewendon, vice-chairman of Oxfordshire Royal British Legion, was one of scores of representatives from the Legion, the Royal Naval Association and the Royal Marines Association to meet the fallen soldiers.

He said well over 100 people saluted the cortege, adding: “We wanted to pay our respects.

“The lads were doing a hard job out in Afghanistan. Many of the people who met the cortege served in the Second World War. That was hard, but I think Afghanistan is even worse.

“It’s very important that we show our support and feelings.”