News of the presumed deaths of six men in Afghanistan hits hard in Warminster, where everyone knows someone in the military
At Battlesbury Barracks the flags flew at half-mast and the soldiers guarding the gate were taking care to make sure a candle lit by wives and partners when their loved ones were deployed to Afghanistan continued to burn. When the candle did briefly go out, extinguished by a chilly wind that whipped off Salisbury Plain, it was quickly re-lit.
The Wiltshire garrison town of Warminster is the sort of place where everyone knows someone who works in the military. The news that six men – five of them members of the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, based at Battlesbury – were missing, presumed dead, has hit the town hard.
The mayor, Pip Ridout, said Warminster was devastated. She said: "The people of Warminster are tremendously proud of the regiment and they will feel the loss like their own. The soldiers haven't even been out in Afghanistan that long. They left last month but the rest of the battalion were meant to be joining them next week.
"We were going to have a parade for them before they go out next Friday. We lost three from here the last time they were in Afghanistan too. It is terribly upsetting for everyone. The children all go to our local primary schools and they live together in the barracks. It is a very solemn day for us all."
A service was being held on Wednesday at the town's Minister Church of St Denys to say prayers for the fallen and their families (nobody had any hope that any of the men could have survived), while books of condolence – one for each fallen soldier – were being made available at a second church, St Lawrence.
Talk in the town inevitably turned to the reasons for British troops still being in Afghanistan. "I feel so sorry for those boys and their families but it makes me ask again why they are out there in the first place," said van driver Jim Pearce. "I admire their bravery but I don't see why we are involved in their war. I know some lads who have been out there. They are convinced that as soon as they pull out, whenever that is, the place will just collapse again. It makes you wonder what the point is."
Jill Evans was more blunt: "Bring them back. They are getting killed for a country that has nothing to do with us. The government should bring them back now before anyone else dies."
The mood, of course, was sombre across the sprawling garrison. There was little laughing and joking as children walked home from school. The playgrounds were deserted. The only topic of discussion in the Naafi shop was the dreadful news that Warminster woke up to.
Wives and other family members have different ways of coping. One member of an army family – not related to any of those missing – described how she ticked off the days until her loved one was due back on a calendar in the kitchen. "It's my favourite time of the day, crossing off that day. He's one more day closer to coming home."
Another tactic some partners have is to set aside a little time each day to think about the dangers their nearest and dearest are facing and thus try to control or contain the anxiety.
As the day wore on mourners laid bouquets of flowers outside the barracks. Former RAF serviceman Lee Thomas, from Warminster, left flowers, explaining: "I was shocked and saddened when I heard the news this morning. It is really tragic. I have come here and laid flowers out of respect. They are only young lads and the government should do more to protect them."
Mandy Dillon added a bunch of yellow and white daisies with a message to the fallen soldiers inside: "Six soldiers reporting for duty at St Peter's gate. My prayers and thoughts are with family and friends. It is such a sad loss."
That candle at the barracks continued to burn. A sign under it read: "This flame serves to remind us of the commitment that the soldiers of this battalion are currently making on operations. It will be extinguished when the last soldiers of the battalion returns safely to the base."
Clearly, now, not all will be returning safely.
Three-year-old Olivia-Mai McLaughlin – whose dad, John, is to fly to Afghanistan in April – also laid flowers at the entrance to Battlesbury. Her mother, Stacey McLaughlin, 21, who lives in Warminster, spoke through tears about the sudden loss of six lives.
She said: "They are true heroes. This loss will be felt badly by all the soldiers out there and the families back home.
"I just hope John comes back home safely when he goes out there."
Hayley Dymek, 22, whose husband, Private Darren Dymek, 24, is in Afghanistan with the Yorkshire regiment, said: "I panicked this morning when I first heard that six soldiers had been killed. But then I found out that the families had been informed, so I knew Darren was safe.
"This really brings home the dangers of what they are doing out there. It has really hit me now. I know what my husband is like – he takes this hard – so I am worried about him. They all do such a brave job."
One message on another bunch of flowers read: "Gone too soon brave heroes – Rest In Peace."