Private James Grigg from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment who was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2010.

The father of a soldier, killed in Afghanistan two years ago, has called on people to get behind the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment’s homecoming parade in Diss next week.

Viking James Grigg, 21, was killed by an improvised explosive device whilst on tour with the regiment in Helmand in March 2010.

His mother and father, Michael and Pat Grigg, of Stradbroke, will be supporting their son’s comrades on Wednesday, November 7 when the Royal Anglians will parade through Diss and will be given the freedom of the town.

Mr Grigg said he was looking forward to seeing the regiment following their recent return from a six month tour of Afghanistan.

“There is a big military context in the area and we have people serving in the Royal Anglians or have served in the area. I am sure they will get a fantastic response and people will give them a good cheer. We are hoping a lot of people will go, but the usual problem is that it is mid week and some people can not get time off,” he said.

The Vikings parade in Diss is one of five homecoming parades in the region in November. The most recent operation was the regiment’s last planned tour of Afghanistan with combat operations set to end in 2014.

Mr Grigg added: “It is very mixed emotions, but the primary one is that we are supporting the lads and lasses and we are tremendously proud of what our son and the lads have done. We have kept in contact with a lot of them. There is a bit of relief that they are back and it has been a long time.”

A memorial garden was unveiled in memory of Pte Grigg two years ago at Stradbroke Cricket Club where the soldier was a player. The James Grigg Youth Cricket Trust was also established to continue to inspire aspiring young cricketers in the soldier’s memory.