Following the death of a number of Coldstream Guards in Afghanistan, Coldstream & District Community Council made an official request to the convener of Scottish Borders Council, Councillor Alasdair Hutton, for permission to be given for the death of a serving soldier from the Guards to be marked by the town, and this has now been granted.

Coldstream is the only town in Britain to have a regiment carrying its name, and the link between local residents and the Coldstream Guards is something that both sides hold dear.

The book of condolence will go into Coldstream Library the week beginning March 15, for anyone who wishes to contribute to it, probably until May.

The 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 11 in the autumn and are expected home next month.
The Coldstream Guards have lost five men since July 2009.

Guardsman Christopher King (aged 20), died on July 22, 2009, following an improvised explosive device explosion in the Nad e-Ali district.

Lance Corporal James Hill (aged 23) was killed as a result of an explosion near Camp Bastion in Helmand Province on October 8, 2009.

Sergeant John Amer died on November 30, 2009, from wounds sustained as a result of an explosion that happened in the Babaji area of central Helmand province.

Lance Corporal Darren Hicks (aged 29) was killed on February 11, 2010, as a result of an explosion in the Babaji district of central Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Douglas Dalzell was killed while serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South) which was operating as part of Operation MOSHTARAK. He died from wounds received as a result of an explosion in the Babaji area of Nahr-e-Saraj in Central Helmand, on February 18, 2010, his 27th birthday.

Corporal Liam Riley (aged 20) and Lance Corporal Graham Shaw (aged 27) of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment both died following an explosion near Sangin, Helmand province, on February 1, while they were serving as part of the Coldstream Guards Battle Group.

In his request to the council convener for the flag in Coldstream to be flown at half mast, community council chairman Martin Brims said: "At the most recent Coldstream and District Community Council meeting an item was raised concerning how we, as a community, could mark the loss of Guardsmen while on active service.

"We were aware that the flag had been lowered to half mast but there was a lack of clarity regarding what (if any) protocols existed for such instances.

"I appreciate that the council protocol doesn't expressly cover service personnel, but given our links with the Regiment I am seeking your approval to allow the town flag to be lowered to the half mast position for a period of three working days for each instance where the Coldstream Guards suffer a fatality.

"I respect the current protocol, which states that flags should be at half mast until the funeral has taken place, but given the elapsed time between notification, repatriation and funeral I am seeking this temporary concession on both the time period and the fact that it is for instances not covered by the current protocol.

"I feel that the placing of a book of condolence within Coldstream Library would also allow people in the town to show their support and sympathy for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The intention would be to have the book open to the Regiment as well as the fallen.

"It would also be our intention to present this book of condolence to the Coldstream Guards when their tour is complete. We would be very honoured if you would be able to make the presentation on behalf of our community.

"As you will understand the links between the community and the Guards are evident each year with the Primary School's Guards Day, the Regiment's appearance at Civic Week and Flodden Day commemorations, as well as other events outside of those mentioned.

"In summary we feel it is the very least we can do to reciprocate the support they have given our town and region.

"My hope is that the book of condolence will be used for both messages of condolence for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as messages of support to those still serving."

Councillor Hutton, who has long been the voice of the Edinburgh Tattoo and also has strong military links - he was a volunteer paratrooper for 32 years with the British Army, and a Member of the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland - has also agreed to present the book of condolence to the Coldstream Guards.

"What you have proposed seems eminently sensible and since it is the wish of the local community council I am happy to agree to what you suggest and leave the precise occasions to you to determine," said Councillor Hutton.
"I would be honoured to present a book of condolence to the Regiment on behalf of the local community at any time you think is appropriate. I shall be visiting the Coldstream Guards Headquarters in Wellington Barracks in London when I present the ceremony of Beating Retreat on Horseguards Parade in the second week of June."

Support for the servicemen fighting in Afghanistan is nationwide and the Coldstream Guards welfare office is running a wristband awareness campaign to support the Guards in Afghanistan. Many famous faces from all walks of life have been photographed wearing their Coldstream Guards wristbands including: Gordon Ramsay, Chris Tarrant, Ray Winstone, The Top Gear Gang, Bob Hoskins, Frank Skinner, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, Sir Terry Wogan and JLS.

So far the campaign has raised over £130,000 to:
support families of members of the Battalion killed in
action; support those injured on operations, and their families; support families of those currently deployed by providing activities etc to help them cope with separation; support soldiers returning from operations and their transition back to normal life; and support soldiers and their families deal with the extraordinary strain they come under.

Princess Anne recently made a surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan and during the trip met with soldiers and officers of 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards currently involved in Operation MOSHTARAK, a joint effort of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) gain control of Nad-e Ali from and reinstate Afghan Government authority.

Speaking after the visit, Captain Jo Barr, Adjutant of Bastion Joint Operating Base said: "This visit has been a great morale boost for the troops. They see that dignitaries like the Princess Royal are genuinely interested in what we do out here."

Now Coldstream residents will have a chance to show their support by signing the book of condolence, strengthening the connection between the town and the country's oldest continuously serving regiment in the British (Regular) Army - both Coldstream and the Coldstream Guards sharing the motto Nulli Secundus (Second to None).