Signs on either side of the gates of Abercorn Barracks at Ballykinler declared ‘Job done — swift and bold’ yesterday as around 70 soldiers from The Rifles 2nd Battalion returned home after their tour in Afghanistan.

Their homecoming was bittersweet — 13 men died as heroes in Helmand province where they had been based for the last six months.

It was a tour which their Commanding Officer Lt Col Rob Thomson MBE had described as their toughest assignment yet.

Wearing their desert combats, the soldiers, who as members of The Rifles are nicknamed the ‘Chosen Men’, were bussed from RAF Aldergrove to Ballykinler where wives and girlfriends were anxiously waiting.

Many of the children wore hoodies with ‘daddy’s girl’ and ‘daddy’s boy’ written on their backs, which had been made by army wives to raise money for families of the fallen and those who had been injured.

The grey skies, heavy rain and blustery conditions were a stark contrast to the searing desert heat of Afghanistan where they had battled in temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius.

But the bright yellow ribbons tied around the barracks symbolised how much they had been missed.

Inside the barracks hall, which was decorated with Welcome Home banners and brightly coloured balloons, the families waited, many overwhelmed with the emotion of the occasion.

At 2pm a loud fanfare signalled that 2 Rifles were finally home.

Leading his men through the doorway was Commanding Officer Lt Col Rob Thomson, whose wife Hilary ran to greet him along with the couple’s five children — Martha, nine, Kitty, eight, Joseph five, Polly, two, and baby Rory, aged four months.

“He saw Rory when he was 10 weeks old for two weeks’ R&R,” Hilary said.

“This was only our second six-month tour in 14 years of marriage so we’ve been lucky but this one was the worst by far.”

Lt Col Thomson said the 13 fallen men were at the forefront of his mind.

“I have come home, they have not,” he said. “We keep them at the forefront of our thoughts. Their families should be utterly proud of what they have done in the fight of our generation.

“We will never forget their sacrifice.”

There were more moving scenes as wives greeted husbands, children clung to fathers and families were finally reunited after a harrowing six months. Waiting for Capt James Heappey was his bride-to-be Kate Bowry.

“We are getting married in three weeks’ time on November 14, so that has kept me busy,” she said.

After an emotional reunion Capt Heappey said: “It’s been a long and dusty tour and there have been some difficult moments.

“It’s been six hard months but we are coming back with

our heads held high.” Kate added: “It’s so good to have him back.

“Before we know it we’ll be married and on honeymoon.”

Charlotte Harris, her three-year-old son Junior and seven-week-old son Malachi were waiting for Rifleman Laxle Harris.

“He saw Malachi when he was four days old for two weeks on R&R,” Charlotte said.

“It’s really important for the boys to see their dad come home, especially Junior.

“It’s affected him a lot — he’s a daddy’s boy!”

She added that the day was also tinged with sadness.

“Their families are in mourning — they paid the ultimate price,” she said.

“It’s a bittersweet day.”

Rifleman Harris said: “Now that I’m home I’m not going to let them out of my sight.” Larne woman Samantha Castle and her children Kaitlyn, nine, Shannon, four, Charlie, three, and Radlee, 10 months, were waiting for Corporal Paul Castle.

She said: “It’s been difficult because you can’t phone them, you have to wait for them to phone you. I put pictures of the children on Facebook and we talk about twice a week. I’m so glad to get him back!”