How many more say Army mourners in Wootton Bassett

Four of the men died taking part in Operation Panchai Palang, or Panter's Claw, a major assault against the Taliban in Helmand Province ahead of next month's Afghan elections.

Their bodies, in coffins draped with the Union flag, were flown in to RAF Lyneham.

Residents, veterans, friends, colleagues and relatives started gathering in nearby Wootton Bassett as the repatriation ceremony took place at the air base.

In what has become a sombre tradition since the bodies of British service personnel started being brought home to RAF Lyneham in 2007, the crowds stood silently as the hearses progressed past on their way to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

Lance Corporal David Dennis, 29, from Llanelli, South Wales, of the Light Dragoons, and Private Robert Laws, 18, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, of 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, died in separate incidents in Helmand on Saturday.

Lance Corporal Dean Elson, 22, originally from Zimbabwe but living in Bridgend, South Wales, of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, was killed in an explosion on Sunday.

Captain Ben Babington-Browne, 27, from Maidstone, Kent, of 22 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, died in a helicopter crash in Zabul on Monday.

Trooper Christopher Whiteside, 20, from Blackpool, of the Light Dragoons, died in a blast caused by an improvised explosive device near Gereshk in Helmand on Tuesday.

One of those paying their respects was Captain John Arkell of the Light Dragoons, who described Lance Corporal Dennis, a friend of his, as a "hell of a character".

Captain Arkell, who was injured serving in Afghanistan in April, said the level of support shown in Wootton Bassett was "fantastic".

He said: "I was in Afghanistan a few months ago and to know people support what you're doing is fantastic.

"To have people lining the streets like this is brilliant.

"There is a huge push going on in Afghanistan at present, with that unfortunately has come these dreadful fatalities.

"The importance of the public support is absolutely key, if our soldiers out there see the support that's here they will thrive off it."

Paying respects to his friend of the past three years Captain Arkell, from Swindon, said: "I knew Lance Corporal Dennis very well. He was a hell of a character.

"With our regiment, the majority of our soldiers come from the Newcastle area, and are Geordies at heart.

"He was Welsh so he stuck out like a sore thumb. He was an absolutely brilliant character, my heart goes out to his family."

Resident Peter Gray, 69, a former Royal Engineer, said: "The people of Wootton Bassett will do this until it finishes, until RAF Lyneham closes.

"We will still be here when they come back, come rain, shine or hail.

"It sticks in the back of your mind today that there are still another two to come back."

Mayor of Wootton Bassett Steve Bucknell said he had received letters from across the UK from people expressing thanks for the level of support shown by the townspeople.

He added: "We know that we are representing not just the people of Wootton Basset but the vast majority of right minded people in the UK.

"That is very heart warming to know and it gives us the determination to keep on doing this for as long as is unfortunately necessary.

"We have had five coming through today and have now sadly heard that two more have lost their lives.

"We keep on asking ourselves how many more? Each time we pray it's the last one, knowing it probably isn't going to be."

One 30-year-old woman from near Wootton Bassett, who did not want to be named, had brought her two-month-old baby daughter to watch the procession.

She said: "Her dad is currently out in Afghanistan so I wanted to come to pay my respects. It really brings it home when you know somebody out there.

"I think the people of Wootton Bassett are fantastic because they come out every time.

"When the troops see the pictures of us supporting them it really helps."

Paula Harman, 22, said: "This really makes me feel a part of the community of Wootton Bassett. I didn't know any of the soldiers personally, but they're the ones fighting for us so in some respects it does feel like I knew them.

"One of them was only 18, which is no life at all."

Her father, Mervyn Harman, 58, said: "I always come along as a mark of respect. It really pulls at your heartstrings."

Chief Technician Ian Pepper, of 606 Squadron based at RAF Benson, who lives in Wootton Bassett, said: "It's refreshing to have so many people here. It's turned around the regard in which servicemen and women are held.

"It's not just those serving, but everyone in the services appreciates it.

"I think we are all wearing our uniform with more pride than we used to."

A tolling bell announced the arrival of the cortege, with the only other audible sound on the high street that of a crying baby.

Teenage friends of Pte Laws, all wearing dark clothing, stood sobbing with their heads bowed as his hearse was driven past.

Relatives of L/Cpl Elson, many of whom were wearing Welsh rugby shirts, threw red flowers on to his hearse, crying uncontrollably as they did so.

Speaking after the procession, his grandmother, Kitty Elson, 66, from Devon, said: "The people of Wootton Bassett have been absolutely brilliant, they have been so kind and helpful.

"It's amazing that all of these people have turned out to pay their respects to these boys.

"We couldn't have asked for a better send-off.

"We couldn't have stayed away from this ourselves.

"We just wanted to be here for him.

"He was a lovely boy and we loved him very much.

"We just can't believe that this has happened to us.

"We feel the pain of all the others here today who have lost loved ones.

"They must be going through exactly the same as us."

She added that L/Cpl Elson's aunts, uncles and cousins were among those watching the procession go through the town.

His parents chose to stay at RAF Lyneham.

The town centre remained silent until the last of the hearses had been driven past.

Members of the soldiers' families chose to stand near the war memorial as flags were lowered as a mark of respect to those who had lost their lives.

Chris Jackson, 61, who works at the town's Sainsbury's supermarket, said: "We just wanted to show our respect and we come as often as we can.

"I think the problem is that it's going to get worse and there will be more like this, where there have been multiple deaths."

Her colleague, Kyle Barnes, 18, said: "The whole place shut down for this. We all take it so seriously."

Royal Army Service Corps veteran Bert Williams, 88, secretary of the Wiltshire branch of the Normandy Veterans' Association, said: "We see this as a farewell.

"It's nice to think people who serve their country are given such respect on their final journey.

"I think the more deaths there are, the more it's going to get to people.

"It's getting too much. We're supposed to be at peace with the world."

His wife, Cynthia Williams, 83, said: "I lost my first boyfriend 65 years ago during World War Two and I've never forgotten him.

"I just feel, coming from an Army family, that it is so important.

"We feel so proud of what these men have done."

The only complaint from residents was that the noise of a helicopter hovering overhead during the procession had cut across the silence.

Former mayor of Wootton Bassett, Chris Wannell, said: "I think it's terrible that there was a helicopter overhead.

"I think it spoiled the atmosphere for an awful lot of people, including the families, and it was completely unnecessary.

"It was the first time we have had a helicopter overhead and we don't want it again."