IT’S set to be one of the proudest days in the city’s history.

As Hampshire’s own Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (PWRR) – known as The Tigers – marches through Winchester on Monday, thousands will line the streets to cheer them on.

But with the Freedom Parade happening on their doorstep, it has emerged that hundreds of the city’s schoolchildren will miss the spectacle.

Instead many will be stuck indoors at their desks rather than waving the troops on.

Some schools say they just weren’t told about the event – a claim disputed by council chiefs.

But now ex-servicemen are demanding an investigation into why hundreds of local children will miss out.

Cllr Simon Cook, a former Royal Marine, said: “I’m completely floored by this. It’s a rare and lovely opportunity for our young people to see well trained young men marching past proudly and I think it’s a terrible shame they won’t get the chance.

“It would have given them an idea of the loyalty they should have to the troops that do the country’s bidding.

“It is a shame if people can’t get themselves organised to come and see our troops marching past. I’m not a school administrator, but it should be possible.”

Cllr Derek Green, Winchester branch chairman of the Royal British Legion, said: “It would be a great shame if there weren’t any there.

“Something like this parade, they won’t see again.

“It’s a huge sense of pride and it’s an absolute honour – the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and they’re so deserving, these guys. I think seeing the kids there would let them know that the kids are aware of what our servicemen and women are doing, and that they’re supporting them. I’m going to speak with the mayor and see if anything can be done.”

John Evans, 85, of Shirley, served with the Royal Hampshire Regiment in the 1940s.

He said: “It’s a shame. This parade has been organised for a long time. The schoolchildren should be there – the kids of today are our future.”

At previous parades across Hampshire, children from local schools have lined the route armed with Union flags, waving and cheering as the troops marched past.

The Freedom Parade has been organised by Winchester City Council and the PWRR.

Last night none of those close to the route, such as All Saints C of E, Winnall Primary and Stanmore Primary School, had plans to make banners or take kids out of school to cheer on the troops.

Due to an inset day, St Bede Primary School pupils aren’t at school on July 22.

Harestock Primary, which has many children whose parents are serving personnel, said they were not even aware of the parade.

A spokesman for Winnall said: “Because of our major building works it would not be appropriate to attend, because we have to pack up the school by July 23.

“To the best of our knowledge, we weren’t informed.”

Council leader Keith Wood said: “The route wasn’t finally settled until July 11 and on July 12 eight local schools were phoned and five expressed some interest, but they all said the date was so close to the end of term.

“We did call them again and we didn’t get much of a reply.”

Major Ben Walters, of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, said: “Obviously we would have liked local school kids to be there, but we understand if it’s not possible.

You would like to think that people have considered the options on this, and it seems they have.”