A PARADE this weekend honours veterans who have been called into battle when Britain's armed forces have been stretched in conflict around the world.

It is a tribute to the ordinary men who joined the 2nd Battalion of North Yorkshire's Green Howards.

The unit was first formed in 1689 and, a year later, saw action in the Battle of the Boyne.

Reformed in 1756 to fight in the Seven Years War and again 100 years later, the unit was to remain in service until shortly after the Second World War.

However, the men joining the parade in Richmond from 11.30am on Sunday are veterans of the Suez Crisis and of security operations in Cyprus between 1952 and 1956.

A band and drums will lead a procession from the Nun's Close car park to a service at St Mary's Church.

Afterwards, Colonel of the Regiment, Major-General Richard Dannatt, will take the salute before the parade assembles in the Friary Gardens for the presentation of gold and silver long-service medals.

Members of the Living History Group will also patrol Richmond Castle in period uniform throughout the weekend to help illustrate the regiment's heritage, while Richmond Town Hall is to host an exhibition of photographs depicting life with the battalion in the 1950s.

"This is a very special occasion for the 2nd Battalion branch members as they mark half a century since they came together in 1952," said Major Roger Chapman, of the Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond.

"The re-enactments will link them to the first raising of the battalion in 1689 and the exhibition of photographs will provide the chance for them to reminisce and swap tales of their time with the Green Howards.