Northern Ireland-based soldiers, recently returned from Afghanistan, have organised their own unique way of marking the move into their newly constructed, purpose-built headquarters and workshops - a gun run and salute.

40th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Lowland Gunners) are based at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn and whilst on duty in Helmand, building contractors were working flat out to complete their new Northern Ireland base.

At the same time General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman and the regiment were able to honour a number of colleagues who won Operational Honours during the arduous deployment.

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The new headquarters – specially designed and built for a deployable regiment – are called 'Home Lines' (pronounced Hume) after the tartan which is worn by 40th Regiment. Lines is a term used for any building occupied by soldiers and goes back to the First World War trenches where the soldiers lived and held back the enemy lines.

During the opening celebrations in Lisburn, three Chief of Joint Operations Commendations and two Commander British Forces (Afghanistan) Commendations, for outstanding contribution during Operation Herrick 10 and one Long Service and Good Conduct Medal were presented to 40th Regiment personnel.

The ceremonies ended with a unique gun run competition. Two teams of six or seven military personnel scrambled from vehicles and assembled L118 105 Light Guns for action before completing an assault course and returning to fire the gun.

(BMcC/KMcA)