Delighted families welcomed the men at their Plymouth base

About 250 commandos have arrived home to an emotional welcome in Devon after weeks of fierce fighting in Iraq.

The troops of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery were greeted by their families at the Citadel barracks on Plymouth Hoe with banners, union flags, balloons and air horns.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Simon Wolsey said his men performed "magnificently".

But the joy of their return was tempered with the memory of the loss of three of their colleagues in a helicopter crash in the early days of the conflict.

Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey said three members of the regiment had paid the "ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of the Iraqi people".

He said the regiment's "heartfelt condolences" went to the friends and relatives of Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans, 24, Sergeant Les Hehir, and 28-year-old Operator Mechanic (Communications) 2nd Class Ian Seymour (RN).

We are a close regiment, and everyone just helped each other through Sergeant Major Mark Morrison

They were among eight personnel from 3 Commando Brigade - of which 29 Commando is part - who died when a US Marine Corps helicopter crashed south of the Kuwait border on 21 March.

Four US aircrew also died in the incident.

"Their courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten," he said.

Sergeant Major Mark Morrison, from Plymouth, said the loss of their three colleagues affected the regiment "massively".

""To lose them in Kuwait as opposed to in Iraq in a war-fighting scenario was devastating for all of us.

"We are a close regiment, and everyone just helped each other through,"

'Coping mode'

Sergeant Major Morrison was welcomed back by four-year-old flag waving twin girls Holly and Courtney, and wife Beverley.

"It is fantastic to be back, God has done us proud with the weather."

His wife Beverley said it had been a "difficult time".

"You go into coping mode.

"They have got their job to do over there, we have got our job to do over here, looking after ourselves and the family and supporting the lads as much as possible."

And service families in the north of the county were also celebrating on Sunday as the men of 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers arrived back at their Chivenor base.