MORE than 100 soldiers will march in a Freedom of Worcester Parade this Saturday, September 17.

It will be the first time 214 (Worcestershire) Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers), based at Dancox House, off Silver Street, has paraded since 1991.

Having the Freedom of the City means the battery has the right to march through the streets 'with bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying'.

Major Stuart Reid, battery commander, said: "The parade is an opportunity for the battery to enjoy the privilege of the freedom of the city and for the city to view its award being celebrated.

"Earlier this year 26 soldiers returned from a successful operational tour to Iraq. Over recent years we have had battery members deployed on training and operations to Kosovo, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Holl-and, Germany, Gibraltar, Northern Ireland, Canada and the USA.

"We have been involved in providing support during the firefighters' strike, the foot-and-mouth outbreak and the Severn floods."

The parade will consist of marching and vehicle-borne detachments of 214 Battery with the band of the Adjutant Generals Corps.

It will start at 1pm with troops marching along City Walls Road, from Dancox House, then up College Street, past the Cathedral, and along the High Street.

At the Guildhall troops will salute Major General Andrew Farquhar, the general officer commanding the 5th Division, to which 214 Battery belongs. The current role of 214 Battery is that of air defence and it is equipped with the High Velocity Missile system. It also is made up of medics, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, pay clerks and chefs.

The honour was originally bestowed on 267th (Worces-tershire) Field Regiment Royal Artillery in 1964, which disbanded and became 214 Battery.

The last person to be made a freeman of the city was Lord Peter Walker, MP for Worcester from 1961 to 1992, in 2002. Other recipients include Winston Churchill in 1950 and Lord Nelson in 1802.