The return to Guernsey of Alex Knowelden, a gunner with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, was heralded by banners outside the former Vazon Bay Hotel. The 25-year-old, who has been serving in Afghanistan, is holding his operational service medal and wearing an England shirt donated to the regiment and signed by Matt Le Tissier. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0759466)

A Guernsey soldier has received a homecoming to remember.

Twenty-five-year-old Alex Knowelden was overwhelmed by the reception he and his regiment received as they paraded through Plymouth streets on Friday.

‘Coming home has been brilliant. The streets were closed and there were thousands of people cheering. One man marched 1,000 metres, right from the barracks alongside us with a massive Union Jack flag. I did get a bit choked up. It was incredible,’ said Mr Knowelden, a gunner with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, who was back on British soil in time to celebrate his birthday on 5 April.

His regiment had been awarded Freedom of the City in Plymouth. A remembrance service for those killed in action was held before the mayor presented each soldier with an operational service medal.

The former Elizabeth College pupil signed up with the Commando Gunners in September 2005 and has just completed his first tour of duty in the North Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

‘There was no specific routine out there.

‘We had to work around the Taliban. It depended where and what they were doing,’ said Mr Knowelden yesterday.

His regiment supported the infantry, including the 2nd Royal Gurkha Regiment and Queen’s Dragoon Guards, and saw front line fighting as well as providing reassurance to locals.