HEROES who made the ultimate sacrifice in their mission to bring peace to war-ravaged Afghanistan were remembered at a York Minster service attended by the Prince of Wales.

Prince Charles was among more than 600 people who gathered in the city to pay tribute to those killed and injured during a six-month tour of duty.

The service of memorial and thanksgiving, which brought together troops and families of those who died, was staged in honour of the achievements and courage of 4th Mechanised Brigade, who deployed to Afghanistan as Task Force Helmand from April to October this year.

During that time, 63 of its personnel were killed, and their names, together with those of nine fallen members of other Afghan operations, were read out by the force’s commander, Brigadier Richard Felton, as a Minster bell tolled.

The prince laid a wreath on behalf of a grateful nation during the service, also attended by Defence Secretary Liam Fox and Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff, while opera star Russell Watson and soprano Hayley Westenra both performed.

Afterwards, in the Minster’s Chapter House, the prince spoke to servicemen and women coming to terms with the scars of their duty, before attending a reception at York’s Imphal Barracks, where he met bereaved families.

The duties of the 6,500-strong brigade, most of whom are based at Catterick Garrison, included supporting the Afghan government during the country’s elections, training and mentoring its security forces and laying the foundations for a more stable future.

Among the soldiers the Prince spoke to was Lance-Sergeant Gary Jameson, 30, of 1st Battalion the Scots Guards, who lost both his legs from the knee down and his left arm when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off.

He said: “It’s an emotional day because I lost two really good friends in Afghanistan, so this is a final farewell to them and it was good to hear their names read out in the Minster.

“I’ve met Prince Charles a few times but this was the first time I’ve had a conversation with him. He was asking how I was doing and about the progress I was making.

“When the IED exploded, I just fell to the ground – it’s not like in the movies. I was lucky because the first-aiders were able to stem the bleeding. Without them, I wouldn’t have survived.”

Teresa Walker, from Catterick, whose 37-year-old husband Lance-Sergeant David Walker was the first soldier killed on the tour, said: “It was a very moving service and it was a special day for me – it was important the Prince was there.

“Davey was a lovely lad, always smiling and joking. He loved the job and he loved the Army.”

And Brigadier Mike Griffiths, whose son Captain Andrew Griffiths, 25, died in an explosion, said: “It is hugely important to remember and recognise the sacrifice of all those who died during the tour.”