Six British soldiers killed in Iraq were brought home today as the role of coalition troops in the Gulf nation was reinforced by senior politicians.
The bodies of the Royal Military Policemen were returned to the UK following an emotional repatriation ceremony at RAF Brize Norton.
British Defence Secretary Mr Geoff Hoon and military top brass looked on as tearful relatives saw coffins carried, one by one, from an RAF transporter.
British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw vowed that Britain forces were "not going to forget" their promise to find the men's killers.
On a trip to Baghdad and Basra, he warned such actions by Iraqi elements would not disrupt the coalition's work to rebuild the country.
The atmosphere at the Oxfordshire air base was sombre as an RAF Boeing C-17 transport plane, carrying the coffins, touched down around noon.
The six Red Caps were flown back after an emotional farewell service at Basra International Airport including the General Officer Commanding British troops in Iraq, Major General Peter Wall, and their remaining regiment colleagues there, from 156 Provost Company.
The men were gunned down at a civilian police station in Al Majar al-Kabir, near Basra, on June 24th.