THE BODIES of two young soldiers from the south west were brought home through the streets of Wootton Bassett yesterday.

Hundreds of local people stood side by side with the men’s families on what marked the town’s 99th repatriation.

Rifleman Philip Allen, 20, from 2nd Battalion the Rifles, and Rifleman Samuel John Bassett, also 20, from 4th Battalion the Rifles, died just days before Remembrance Sunday.

British Legion veterans, shopkeepers and residents gathered along the High Street and paid their silent tributes as the soldiers' cortege passed through the town on the way to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

Among those paying their respects was former pilot and father of two soldiers Peter Thomas, of Calne.

He said: “It is always a very solemn event when we join together for a repatriation – but it is a heroes’ welcome.

“We don't necessarily support the war but we support these brave soldiers and their families.”

Rifleman Allen, from Dorset, died on November 7 while working as part of a platoon providing clearance and security to Afghans when an improvised explosive device was detonated.

Rifleman Allen’s mother, Karen Charman-Allen, said: “I would like to thank all of the soldiers who have served with and knew Phil.

“He was proud to have been a soldier in 2 Rifles and to have served on tour with them in Afghanistan.”

Rifleman Allen also leaves a fiancee, Kirsty.

Rifleman Bassett, from Plymouth, was serving as part of the 3 Rifles Battle Group when he was caught up in a blast in Sangin, Northern Helmand, during a routine patrol.

He later died from his injuries in hospital the day after Rifleman Allen.

He had only completed his training in May and was deployed to Afghanistan just last month.

He leaves his mother Coline, father Simon, who lives in Canada, and 18-year-old brother Jack.

Mrs Bassett said: “Samuel was not only my son, but Samuel and his brother Jack are my best friends.

“Samuel was a real character, always the joker. He will be so, so missed and loved forever – our proud little soldier.

“During Samuel’s last conversation with the family, he said he was ‘having the time of his life’ and even joked when he spoke to his granddad, while sitting on the roof watching the sun go down in Afghanistan, that he was also keeping his head down from the snipers.”

Wootton Bassett has been nominated for a host of awards, including the introduction of a royal prefix, in recognition of the way in which repatriations are handled, but the town council has said it is just doing what it should.

Mayor Steve Bucknell said: “We’ve been careful throughout this process not to get involved in the politics of the war. These repatriations are simply about the soldiers and their families and the support we give to the armed forces.

“We’re not doing it for plaudits or a pat on the back. We’ve very reluctantly found ourselves in the spotlight. Townspeople don’t feel comfortable about all the attention.”