Families met the marines when they returned to Plymouth

More than 400 Royal Marines from 42 Commando have arrived back in Devon from the war in Iraq.

The troops received a rapturous welcome from about 50 families as they returned to Bickleigh barracks on the outskirts of Plymouth.

They were transported to the city by coach, following a flight from Kuwait to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

Hundreds of members of the army's Royal Engineers 59 (Commando) Squadron, based at Chivenor in north Devon, are due back to their barracks early Tuesday morning.

One of the returning marines, Phil Lamb, was met by his sister and girlfriend and said it was great to be back.

"It's lovely to see the greenery again after spending so much time in the desert.

The troops received a rapturous welcome

"It's also great to see family and friends again."

Commanding Officer of 42 Commando, Colonel "Buster" Howes, paid tribute to those who had served with him in Iraq.

"They were amazing. They were courageous compassionate, flexible and never lost their sense of humour."

The 42 Commando troops are the latest contingent of South West-based service personnel to return to Devon.

There were joyful scenes on Friday as members of 40 Commando arrived at Exeter Airport before returning to their Taunton base.

And on Sunday it was the turn of the families of Plymouth-based 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, and some members of 59 Commando at Chivenor.

Bickleigh-based 42 Commando left for Kuwait at the beginning of February and immediately started preparing for their role in the assault on the Al Faw peninsula.

Vital back-up

When the war started, they provided vital back-up to 40 Commando as they secured the oil infrastructure in southern Iraq.

After helping to control the deepwater port of Umm Qasr, 42 Commando group moved on to Basra.

There they saw fierce fighting before securing key bridges, a water treatment plant and a presidential palace.

During the past few weeks, the Royal Marines have been patrolling the city of Basra and the Rumalla oilfields 50 kilometres to the west.