FOUR soldiers from Oxford's Territorial Army were reunited with their families yesterday (April 30) after a six-month tour of duty in Iraq.

Rifleman Matthew Brain, from Witney, Rifleman Lee Adams, from Stokenchurch, Corporal Ian Leppington, from Slough, and Lance Corporal James Champion, from Aylesbury, flew back to RAF Brize Norton.

The Royal Green Jackets, based at Slade Park Barracks, Headington, were on a peacekeeping mission in Iraq's second city Basra, working alongside full-time soldiers.

Their duties included street patrols and escorting convoys.

As previously reported in the Oxford Mail, they were part of a patrol that captured a boat attempting to smuggle petrol.

Three of the four soldiers had returned from 13-week peacekeeping duties in Kabul, Afghanistan, only five months before they were sent to Iraq.

Oxford Royal Green Jackets Company Sergeant Major John Hole is still in Iraq after flying out in March for a six-month operation.

Rifleman Brain, who suffered minor injuries to his right hand after a surprise grenade attack on the camp where he was based in Kabul, said the group had been well-received by Iraqi civilians.

He said: "I look forward to seeing Iraq emerge in the future as a prosperous, democratic nation and I can look back with pride on the small part that I, with my fellow Riflemen, would have played in this."

It was L Cpl Champion's first taste of operations.

He said: "There were some highs and lows, as with everything, but the experience I have gained and the excitement is what I joined the TA for."

The soldiers underwent five weeks of intensive training in the north Midlands before being deployed.

Major Nic Shugar, Oxford Royal Green Jackets Commanding Officer, said they had done extremely well. He said: "I'm proud at the way the soldiers have performed in what were sometimes difficult and dangerous circumstances."

The soldiers returned to Slade Park barracks yesterday evening before seeing their families.