War in Afghanistan comes home

A soldier from the Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 Scots) takes position during a patrol in a Taliban-held area of Helmand province during Operation Panchai Palang (Panther's Claw) Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

A soldier in Helmand makes tea in a makeshift compound Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

British soldiers from 3 Scots regiment patrol a Taliban-held area of Helmand Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

A boy watches as a British soldier searches his house in Helmand Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

A British soldier searches a house in Helmand Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

British troops in Helmand Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

British troops in Helmand Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

British troops in Helmand Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

Children in Wardack province watch US soldiers whose vehicle slid down a road and wrecked their vegetable gardens during a patrol in the village of Qaleh-ye-Naw Photograph: Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters

Soldiers from the Princess of Wales Regiment march through Worthing, Sussex, to mark their return from Afghanistan and Iraq Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Soldiers from the Princess of Wales Regiment march through Worthing, Sussex, to mark their return from Afghanistan and Iraq Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Soldiers from the Princess of Wales Regiment march through Worthing, Sussex, to mark their return from Afghanistan and Iraq Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

Private Mark Brook, from Sheffield, kisses his girlfriend, Stephanie Caterer, at York Racecourse after receiving his Afghanistan service medal during a parade of territorial army soldiers from 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA