Back on our old stamping ground: Soldiers from 1 Lancs march through Burnley
The drums were beating, the rifles were carried and the streets of Burnley were lined with pride as one of the British Army's busiest infantry battalions returned to its old stamping ground.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment – better known as 1 Lancs – were exercising their right to march through the town, a ceremonial privilege granted by the Freedom of the Borough, which the regiment received a decade ago.
Among those on parade were dozens of local lads, back home in uniform, representing a proud tradition of military service in Lancashire.
One such Burnley-born soldier was Warrant Officer Class Two (CSM) Wayne Crowcroft, who said he had joined the battalion 24 years ago from a careers office in the town.
"It's been a great opportunity," the Sergeant Major said.
"It helps keep those links to the local towns we recruit from, keeping that solidarity and bond between unit, regiment and the local towns that help support the regiment.
"Being from Burnley, it's where I grew up. At 16 years old, walking into the careers office, I then spent 24 years in the military to date.
"Burnley, and the other towns the soldiers are from, have got a special part to play in what we do."
The day's events began at St Peter's Church in the centre of Burnley, where dignitaries, veterans and serving soldiers gathered for a service of reflection and celebration.
Hymns such as Jerusalem and the National Anthem echoed through the nave before the battalion stepped outside, ready to take to the streets.
With bayonets fixed and colours flying, the troops set off on their ceremonial route through the town, cheered on by residents, families and former servicemen.
Their destination was Turf Moor – the home of Burnley FC – where the soldiers were honoured with a formal inspection by the Lord Mayor and then treated to a reception hosted by the football club.
It was a symbolic meeting of two of Burnley’s most respected institutions – a show of gratitude from club to corps.
A proud Lancastrian history
1 Lancs has deep roots in the north of England. It was formed in 2006 as part of a wider restructuring of the infantry; the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment brought together three historic regiments: The King's Own Royal Border Regiment, The King's Regiment and The Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
1 Lancs is the regiment's regular battalion and traces its lineage back through centuries of service, with battle honours stretching from Waterloo to World War II and beyond. Soldiers from the battalion have served in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and across Eastern Europe.
Known for its no-nonsense professionalism and close community ties, 1 Lancs proudly recruits from across Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Merseyside – with many soldiers joining straight from school and going on to long, distinguished careers.
One such soldier who joined the Army from a high school in Burnley is Kingsman Mason McCarney, who spent a year at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, before completing Phase Two at Infantry Training Centre Catterick.
He is now proudly serving in Corunna Company, 1 Lancs.
"Doing a freedom parade in my home town is just to represent the bond between the Army and civilian population," Kgsm McCarney said.
Corporal Conah Sagar, a junior NCO in Burma Company, 1 Lancs, added that it was "good to be on my old stamping ground" and that he was proud his friends and family could see him in his home town, in uniform doing "some ceremonial stuff".
From Nato's frontline to familiar streets
Earlier this year, 1 Lancs returned from a demanding deployment to Estonia, where it exercised under Operation Cabrit – the UK's contribution to Nato's Forward Land Forces on the alliance's eastern flank.
During their time in the Baltics, the troops were stationed just 35 miles from the Russian border.
Their mission involved building defensive positions and fortifications deep in the Estonian forests – which may one day be used in all-out war.
From the beginning of July, the battalion has been officially designated as Nato's Strategic Reserve Force.
In practice, that means if the security situation deteriorates in Europe, 1 Lancs will be among the first British units called to fight.
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