THE moment young Alfie had been waiting for came at last when his dad Lance Corporal Graham Francombe stepped off the coach at Beachley Barracks on Tuesday.

Father and son were reunited in a tender hug putting the gruelling tour of Afghanistan, which claimed five Rifles lives many miles behind them.

MANY sleepless nights for 1Rifles soldiers and their families ended this week as the battalion's C Company returned from Afghanistan.

Two coaches, carrying between 80 and 100 soldiers, were greeted with cheers and applause as they rolled into the Beachley barracks on a bright autumn afternoon.

But sadly for five families there will be no celebration as their sons were killed in action.

Jessica Gamble had come with daughter Imogen and son Alfie to welcome her husband LCpl Shawn Gamble home after his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

"It has been a hard wait since Shawn went back after his R&R in July," she said.

"Time drags on and it is hard to find things to fill the days. I didn't sleep at all last night and I've been quite nervous today.

"But we're back to normality now for 18 months and it will be nice to have Shawn home for Christmas."