FOR the first time in its 50-year history, soldiers from 23 Pioneer Regiment will not march through Bicester on a homecoming parade.

Instead the troops, many who have recently returned from Afghanistan or United Nations peacekeeping duty in Cyprus, will march though the centre of Oxford.

The move has been made due to the redevelopment work in Bicester town centre, which meant road closures needed for a parade would have been difficult to arrange.

Instead the 450 soldiers are inviting people to travel into Oxford to support them on Wednesday, April 4.

The regiment will form up in Parks Road at 10.30am before marching to Broad Street.

There they will be inspected by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, John Harwood, Oxford’s Deputy Lord Mayor Alan Armitage and Bicester’s mayor Rose Stratford.

It will be the first time since June 2006 that troops have marched through Oxford city centre, when the 1st Battalion of the Royal Green Jackets exercised their Freedom of the City for the last time before the regiment became part of the Rifles.

Major Steve Freeman, of 23 Pioneer Regiment, said: “It’s the first time we have paraded in Oxford.

“We couldn’t use Bicester because of the town centre work.

“However, it’s the school holidays and it would be marvellous if people from Bicester came along to support us.”

The parade will be unique as three different regiments, 23 Pioneer and 27 Regiment from the Regualr Army and Territorial Army troops from 168 Pioneer Regiment, will take part.

The soldiers will not wear traditional parade uniforms. Instead they will put on three different types of uniform to signify their role in overseas operations.

These include the current Afghanistan desert camouflage uniform, the blue beret of UN peacekeepers and standard Army uniform to signify those who remained in the UK to support operations overseas.

After the troops have marched into Broad Street they will form up and those recently returned from Afghanistan will be presented with their campaign medals.

Major Freeman said: “We have people coming back from Afghan-istan and we had a squadron in Cyprus as part of UN peacekeeping in Op Tosca. It’s the fact that the regiment is now back home and together for the first time in the best part of a year.”

After the parade, troops will head back to their Bicester base to put on a display with a medal presentation ceremony.

Bicester has been the only UK home known to 23 Regiment since 1963. But the town has a much longer association with the Armed Forces, dating back to the First World War, when the Royal Flying Corps, the forerunner of the Royal Air Force, had a base in the town.

Steve Waddup, who runs a furniture shop in the Emporium, in Crown Walk, Bicester, and who raised cash for the 23 Pioneer Regiment Benevolent charity when he first opened his store, said: “It’s a shame for the town as these parades have been held in Bicester for the past 50 years.

“But I think with the sad news of the six soldiers who came back on Tuesday, the Armed Services are in the forefront of peoples’ minds.

“I believe people are happy to go out and support our troops.”

Royal British Legion county chairman Jim Lewendon said: “The Royal British Legion will be supporting the Pioneers. I will certainly be down there.

“I would encourage people to go along and support the lads.”

smcgregor@oxfordmail.co.uk