IT should have been the proud moment Privates Richard Hunt and James Prosser received operational medals to mark their regiment returning from Afghanistan.

But instead their bereaved families collected Elizabeth Crosses, awarded to show national recognition of their losses to the conflict.

The soldiers’ former company from The Second Battalion The Royal Welsh marched through Brecon on Saturday to mark the completion of an eight-month deployment and being granted honourary citizenship of the town.

It was an emotional day for Pte Prosser’s mother, Sarah Adams, and Pte Hunt’s mother, Hazel, who watched their sons’ friends and colleagues being cheered and clapped by around 2,000 people.

Pte Hunt, from Abergavenny, became the 200th British serviceman to lose his life serving in Afghanistan when he died last August, aged 21, from wounds sustained in an explosion in Helmand Province.

Pte Prosser, from Cwmbran, was killed during an explosion a month later, also aged 21, as he drove a Warrior vehicle in the Musa Qaleh district of Helmand.

After receiving the cross, Ms Adams said: “It was an honour to be a part of it all but also very hard.

“You just wish you were watching James because this was the day we looked forward to.

“It’s nice to see his friends again but you just wish he was here too.”

Mrs Hunt said: “It’s a very emotional day but also a proud one.

“We accepted the medal on behalf of Richard and are very, very proud of him and all the rest of A Company.

“We’ve kept in contact with his friends from the company and they want to help with our charity.

“James and Richard meant so much to them.”

Her family launched The Richard Hunt Foundation last November to help wounded servicemen and have so far raised £12,000.

The Elizabeth Cross, which is awarded to the families of servicemen killed during operations along with a memorial scroll signed by the Queen, was presented to the families by the Lord Lieutenant of Powys, The Honourable Shan Legge-Bourke, at the Bulwark.

The day had begun with a service held at the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist in the town, during which both mothers lit candles for their sons and the congregation of 800 held a two-minutes silence to remember them.

After the service, around 100 soldiers marched half a mile into the town centre led by a goat, which is the regiment’s mascot.

They were greeted by crowds of family, friends and local people waving Welsh flags.

The British and Welsh national anthems were played, a salute performed and each soldier was presented with a medal commemorating A Company’s deployment to Afghanistan between July last year and February.

Brecon mayor Ieuan Williams presented a freedom scroll awarding the regiment honourary citizenship of the town in recognition of its service and achievements and the celebrations finished with the soldiers parading around the town centre for a final time.