Llandaff Cathedral service for Welsh Cavalry killed in Afghanistan

Lt David Boyce (L) and L/Cpl Richard Scanlon died in Afghanistan in 2011

Two soldiers killed in Afghanistan have been remembered in a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.

The service honoured L/Cpl Richard Scanlon, 31, from Rhymney, Caerphilly, and Lt David Boyce, 25, from Bath, Somerset, whose vehicle hit an improvised explosive device (IED).

Both served with the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (QDG), also known as the Welsh Cavalry.

A campaign is under way to save the regiment from possible amalgamation.

Friday's service was attended by Lt Gen Simon Mayall, regimental colonel of QDG.

Speaking outside the cathedral, QDG's commanding officer Lt Col Jasper de Quincy Adams, said: "Both of those boys were just incredibly popular and real inspirational leaders and we did understandably take a knock when it happened, no doubt about it.

"But what I am glad to say is that the British soldier picks himself up pretty quickly, and the Welsh soldier unbelievably quickly, so very quickly we were back in line carrying on the fight and doing our job."

The remembrance service was held the day before the regiment will parade through Cardiff

The regiment paraded through Swansea on Wednesday, and will do so on Saturday through Cardiff.

The homecoming parade is part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Wales, and will begin with an inspection by Cardiff council leader Heather Joyce at the castle in the city centre.

At 12:40 BST the regiment will leave the castle before parading down High Street, around Mill Lane and will end on The Hayes.

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It comes as the regiment's future is uncertain.

Although defence officials have said no decision has been made about the regiment's future, campaigners fear it could be merged with another and up to 500 soldiers sacked.

The UK government has plans to cut the number of British troops from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2020.

Among those in support of the regiment is Ray Scanlon, L/Cpl Richard Scanlon's father.

He has said: "For him to lose his life in Afghanistan and then the regiment to come back and find... they may be... amalgamated... is an insult.

"My boy would turn in his grave if he knew this was happening.

"These boys have just come back from serving in Afghanistan, lost two of their comrades and yet are finding out they might have lost their regiment."

L/Cpl Scanlon and Lt Boyce, both members of B Squadron, died when their vehicle struck an IED in the Nahr-e-Saraj area of Helmand Province in November.