A POEM dedicated to Wootton Bassett’s repatriation ceremonies has been circulating among soldiers.

Repatriation has been passed between soldiers in Helmand Province and has been posted on the social networking website Facebook.

The nine-verse piece was written by Staff Sergeant Andy McFarlane, who is currently based at Camp Bastion, the main British military base in Afghanistan.

The poem criticises politicians’ perceived absence from the repatriation ceremonies, where hundreds of mourners line streets to salute the coffins of fallen soldiers.

However, two MPs have said the repatriations should not be turned into political occasions.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray, whose constituency includes Wootton Bassett, said he had been to at least 60 of the 84 repatriations.

Mr Gray added other ministers had also been to RAF Lyneham in the past to pay their respects.

“We don’t want to have great ceremonies and make them political,” said Mr Gray. “They’re not political events, they are the town turning out, not anything else.

“Ministers and MPs standing there drawing attention to themselves would be quite wrong.”

Mr Gray said he believed most people in the town felt the same way.

“If you ask, most people say we don’t want that, we want it to remain like it is, the town’s people stopping for a few minutes in their busy day.

“They say we don’t want to discuss whether or not we should be in Afghanistan, that’s for someone else. These people have been killed doing their duty.”

North Swindon MP Michael Wills, who recently attended one of the repatriations, said: “A ministerial presence at Wootton Bassett might distract from what should always be primarily a ceremony for the families.”

The Afghanistan conflict started in 2001. This weekend it was announced the number of soldiers killed in Afghanistan had risen to more than 200.

Today Wootton Bassett will play host to its 85th repatriation ceremony. The bodies of three soldiers will pass through Wootton Bassett at about 1.45pm as they are transported from RAF Lyneham to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, 23, of 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, from Haxby, North Yorkshire, was hit by makeshift explosive in Helmand on Thursday.

Rifleman Daniel Wild, 19, of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, from County Durham, and Capt Mark Hale, 42, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, died trying to help their injured comrade when all three were caught in a second blast.

South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove was unavailable for comment.

Repatriation By Andy McFarlane

The leviathan of the sky does land In England’s green and pleasant land.

Its cargo more precious than gold The body of a hero, bold.

Once the giant’s engines stopped The cargo ramp is gently dropped Carried by six on shoulders true The hero is saluted by the crew.

The coffin draped in Union Jack Is slowly carried out the back.

Out of the dark and into light Slowly down the ramp and to the right.

The six approach the hearse all black And place the hero gently in the back.

The six then turn and march away Their duty has been done this day.

Politicians usually have much to say No sign of them near here this day.

They hide away and out of danger, Much easier if the hero is a stranger.

The hearse with its precious load Moves slowly out onto the road.

The floral tributes line the route While comrades snap a smart salute.

At the edge of a Wiltshire town The cortege slows its pace right down.

The streets are packed, many deep, Some throw flowers, most just weep.

The crowd have come to say farewell, The church bell rings a low death knell.

Regimental standards are lowered down As the hero passed through the town.

The cortege stops and silence reigns The townsfolk feel the family’s pain.

The nations’ flag lowered to half mast Our brave hero is home at last.