NOWHERE in the UK has felt the effects of the bloodiest year in Afghanistan more than the sleepy market town of Wootton Bassett.

Yesterday marked the 105th repatriation the town has held this year as three more young soldiers were brought home.

Lance Corporal Tommy Brown, from The Parachute Regiment, Lance Corporal Christopher Roney, 23, of A Company, 3rd Battalion The Rifles, and Lance Corporal Michael David Pritchard, 22, of the 4th Regiment, Royal Military Police, all returned home through the town’s High Street.

L/Cpl Roney, 23, who died from wounds sustained in a firefight near Sangin in Helmand Province on Monday, was dad to five-month-old William.

Paying tribute to her “hero”, his wife Lorna, 21, said she was thrilled when he became a father.

She said: “I spoke to him on December 20 and he told me how much he was missing me and William.

“He said wished he could be with us for Christmas. I feel like he is just still away and could still come home. I can’t take it in that he is gone.

“He was so proud to become a father just five months ago.”

His death, along with that of L/Cpl Pritchard, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, may have resulted from friendly fire, and both deaths are under investigation by the Royal Military Police.

In a statement, L/Cpl’s family said: “With great sadness we say goodbye to our beloved son, a lover of life who has lived life to the full and has brought great joy to all those who are lucky enough to know him.

“A light that shines brightly, our precious son, brother, grandson, boyfriend and special friend to all, we are very proud of you in all that you have done and achieved and you will always be in our hearts now and evermore.”

Despite the sleet and snow, the streets of Wootton Bassett were lined with hundreds of people who had travelled from all over the country to pay their silent respects to the war dead.

Although the town has become a national focus point for the country’s grief and has been presented with several national awards, the townsfolk say that they come out in droves only to pay their respect.

Former soldier Ray Warrington, 74, who has lived in the town all his life, said: “We do this because we know what these men and women have done and seen while fighting for us.

“We want to do this – we don’t feel like we have to. As long as I am physically able, even in a wheelchair, I will carry on coming to the High Street to show my respect and appreciation.

“They will never be forgotten.”

The repatriation took place just a day after it was announced that another soldier, from 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, was killed in the blast in the Kajaki area of Helmand province.