THEY are medals that represent two very different experiences on the frontline.

One marks an intense six months in Afghanistan while the other will represent an historic tour of Iraq that resulted in British troops leaving the war-torn country for good.

Next week two Southampton soldiers will stand side by side as they are presented with the accolades in their home city.

Daily Echo: Click below to see a video of today's headlines in sixty seconds

The operational tour medals will be awarded to Corporal John Peart and Private Brian Wottrich during a special ceremony in front of Southampton’s civic centre as part of a morning of celebrations to mark the homecom- ing of soldiers from the county regiment.

And the Daily Echo is urging residents from across the county to turn out and support the soldiers and give them a warm welcome home.

From schoolchildren to local businesses, people are being called upon to line the route to the city’s Bargate monument next Tuesday morning.

Mayor Liz Mizon will make the presentation before taking the salute from up to 300 soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment as they prepare to exercise their right to a freedom march through the city’s streets.


The route of the Southampton march.

Nicknamed The Tigers, they will march with their regiment band The Kohima Band, before standing on parade with city veterans.

A second parade and march will take place in Romsey in the afternoon following a special service at Romsey Abbey that will be attended by dignitaries from across the area.

Two soldiers who hail from Portsmouth will also receive medals to mark their operational tours during the event.

Cpl Peart, 26, whose mum Sharon lives in the New Forest, has experienced two tours of Iraq before being deployed to Afghanistan last August with his colleagues from B company.

A former Noadswood School and Totton College pupil, he joined the army shortly after turning 18, following in the footsteps of his father.

Pte Wottrich is 19 years old and has been in the army for two and a half years.

He grew up in Southampton and attended St George’s Catholic School before joining up.

He was deployed to Iraq in December last year aged just 18, following 18 months spent training to prepare him.

Speaking when he returned, having been part of the historic withdrawal of British troops from the country this year, he said: “It feels great to be back.

It feels like I’m part of something, that I’ve done something historic. It’s a good feeling.”