Wow, Beyonce attends Michelle Obama fundraiser with no signs of baby weight

Life on the Afghanistan frontline continues for brave soldiers as bodies of comrades killed in worst bombing of UK troops are repatriated

• Six dead servicemen flown into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire today
• 2,000 mourners watched as the Union-flag covered coffins left airbase
• Comrades cleared Taliban heartland around Gereshk over weekend

Soldiers from the regiment which lost five men in the deadliest attack on British troops in Afghanistan
were today praised for their dedication in carrying on the fight against the Taliban.

As the bodies of the six men killed in the bomb attack on a Warrior armoured vehicle were flown back to the UK today, men who had fought alongside them did not hesitate in carrying on frontline duties.

Five members of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment - all aged 21 or under - were killed in the explosion two weeks ago.

Work goes on: Private Thomas Peebles, 24, from Gateshea,d of 3 Yorks, kneels and gives jam ring biscuits to a local child in a field outside a compound, in the Yakhchal area of Helmand

The family of Private Anthony Frampton are pictured wearing memorial t-shirts. They are seen waving as his coffin leaves the Memorial Garden in Carterton

Honour: The repatriation cortege carrying the bodies of six British Army soldiers killed in Afghanistan stops at The Memorial Garden in Carterton, near Brize Norton

Today their bodies were flown into RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire where a private service to honour the comrades took place.

Service personnel and members of the public gathered at a memorial garden in Carterton, to pay tribute to their sacrifice.

Sergeant Nigel Coupe, 33, of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, Corporal Jake Hartley, 20, Private Anthony Frampton, 20, Private Christopher Kershaw, 19, Private Daniel Wade, 20, and Private Daniel Wilford, 21, all of 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, were killed on March 6.

But despite the deadly attack, their comrades were part of a 1,000-strong British force which supported an Afghan-led operation to clear the Taliban heartland around Gereshk over the weekend.

Resumed fight: Lieutenant Rob Becher, 23, in Afghanistan. It is just two weeks since five soldiers from his regiment - the 3 Yorks - were killed in a blast

Battle: Rob Beecher, 23, rests against a wall and Corporal Jamie Oldham, 24, enters a room in a compound that has to be cleared, in the Yakhchal area of Helmand Province

Many were close friends of the men who lost their lives and all were determined to remember their fallen colleagues.

 

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• Overjoyed with life: War photographer Giles Duley lost three limbs after stepping on a landmine, now he is the only civilian being treated at Headley Court
• RIGHTMINDS: Watch and weep as six more servicemen are repatriated: We need a timely reminder of the human cost of Afghanistan

They played a key role in supporting patrols by the Afghan National Civil Order Police as they prevented suspected insurgents fleeing the area.

Days earlier, soldiers from the battalion helped take out a Taliban stronghold and seize weapons and bomb-making equipment in a nearby area.

Both operations took place within 20 miles of the site where an improvised explosive device (IED) killed their fellow soldiers.

Sadness: Coffins covered in Union Jacks pass by crowds who lined the streets to pay their respects to the war dead

Grief: Hundreds of mourners lined the streets as six hero soldiers returned home, including a little girl carrying a daffodil, left, while another woman, right, cries in a moment of reflection as the hearses pass by

Four mourners wait on the kerbside with roses and reflect on the tragedy as the six hero soldiers returned home 

Lieutenant Colonel Dan Bradbury, the commanding officer of 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, said: 'Despite the losses the regiment has suffered, it comes as no surprise to me that 3 Yorks continue to conduct themselves with professionalism on operations.

'It is a real testament to the character of our soldiers that they are determined to carry on the mission and take the fight to insurgents.'

This weekend's operation - dubbed Operation Now Roz, or New Day in Dari - saw Afghan troops take the lead with the support of British forces.

They uncovered a haul of weapons including 44 bombs, closed down 18 IED-making factories, and raided a Taliban command compound.

Mission: Soliders from the Third Yorkshire Regiment search a corridor as they hunt for insurgents and suspected IED factories

Painstaking work: Private Craig Owen, 23, from St Helens, of 3 Yorks, who lost men in an IED blast on their Warrior armoured vehicle, finishes off his search for an IED in a heap of maize chaff

Lance Corporal Nico Bolatagn, from the 3 Yorks, points his General Purpose Machine Gun down a road in Helmand

Private Thomas Peebles, 24, from Gateshead, was among those from 3 Yorks on the operation.

He has been in Helmand for a month after being deployed on Valentine's Day.

Pte Peebles said he had not thought twice about going out on the ground.

He said: 'Going out on patrol is our job and we are happy to get on with it. I saw the boy in a field and I went over to him to say "hello" in Pashtun.

'A lot of us carry sweets and biscuits to give to locals. He seemed happy and ran back across the field.'

Corporal Jamie Oldham, 24, gets on the radio before entering a compound as he searches for suspected IED factories and evidence of insurgent activity in Afghanistan

Hunt: Soldiers move through a compound looking for IEDS - just two weeks after five of their comrades in the 3rd Yorkshire Regiment were killed in a blast

Yesterday servicemen and women serving on bases across Afghanistan paused to remember the six.

Ceremonies took place at main operating bases to remote camps throughout the day.

This afternoon Union-flag draped coffins were taken along the new 'Highway for Heroes', in Carterton, West Oxfordshire after landing at the airbase nearby at 1.30pm. 

The solemn procession left the £2.8 million repatriation centre through the newly named Britannia Gate and the village was brought to a silent standstill as the coffins passed slowly through the streets.

Tearful mourners broke into spontaneous applause by up to 2,000 mourners who watched as the cortege made its way northwards up Station Road, before turning on to Carterton Road and arriving at the purpose built memorial garden.

More than 40 proud standard bearers, holding flags from the British Armed Forces, stood in silence as the six black hearses drove past at 5.45pm.

Repatriation: The bodies of six soldiers killed in Afghanistan are flown into RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, this afternoon

Friends and family hold dozens of roses as they remember their loved ones as the coffins leave RAF Brize Norton

Tragedy: The six men killed in a blast in Helmand two weeks ago. They are (top row left to right) Sergeant Nigel Coupe, Corporal Jake Hartley and Private Anthony Frampton, with (bottom row left to right) Private Christopher Kershaw, Private Daniel Wade and Private Daniel Wilford

A group of more than 200 members of the Royal British Legion Remembrance Riders also attended on their bikes.

Families of the soldiers - many wearing customised memorial t-shirts - wept, laid flowers and applauded the funeral cortege as it passed them at 5.45pm.

Friends of Pte Frampton wore shirts emblazoned with the slogan 'A hero & a friend' while others had brought clothing with 'R.I.P Our Fallen Hero' written on it.

Lee Saunders, a close friend of Pte Frampton, said he was delighted at the crowds who had turned up to honour the dead.

He said: 'I know he would be quite surprised to see how many people have come here.

'It is amazing to see such a crowd.'

Frontline: Private Thomas Peebles and seven other British troops in the Yakhchal area of Helmand Province on operation 'Now Roz' to search compounds for suspected IED factories and evidence of insurgent activity in Afghanistan

Gunner Alex Shawcroft, 21, from Cornwall, crosses a bridge followed by other soldiers from 3 Yorks, who lost men in an IED blast on their Warrior armoured vehicle

Careful sweep: Private Craig Owen, 23, from St Helens, of 3 Yorks, searches for deadly land mines in a corridor in a compound

Tearful Rory Olejnik, a friend of Pte Wilford, paid tribute to the hero soldier as he waited for his cortege to pass.

He said: 'He was a great lad who never had a bad word to say about anyone.

'He went out there to do a job - to do the job he always wanted to do - it was just unfortunate he's never coming home.

'He certainly lived for the moment. He always looked out for his friends.'

Royal British Legion member Derek Bradshaw said: 'We're here to offer remembrance to all those who have fallen in all conflicts.

'There is such support for the families of the deceased here, they should be proud to know their brothers, sons and fathers have not died in vain.

The family of Private Christopher Kershaw stand by his coffin as it leaves the Memorial Garden in Carterton

Tearful mourners broke into spontaneous applause by up to 2,000 mourners who watched as the cortege made its way to a purpose built memorial garden

Mourners comfort each other earlier this afternoon. Five members of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment were killed in the explosion two weeks ago

'I hope to God I will never have to come here again, but unfortunately I know we will.'

Father-of-two Sgt Coupe, 33, from Lytham St Annes, Lancs., was fiercely proud to serve his country and was a member of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

The five other soldiers were all members of The Yorkshire Regiment's 3rd Battalion.

Howard Henshaw, the mayor of Fylde, said: 'We have been flying the flag at half-mast and Sgt Coupe's memory will never be forgotten.

'Sgt Coupe was in Afghanistan to make life safer for the rest of us and our thoughts are with his friends and family.'

Four of the fallen soldiers came from the West Yorkshire area, close to Halifax.

Corporal Jake Hartley, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, joined the Army in December 2008 and was quickly promoted despite his young age.

Private Anthony Frampton, from Huddersfield, who signed up in January 2009, was childhood friends with Private Daniel Wilford, who trained as a gunner on the Warrior vehicle.

Private Christopher Kershaw, from Bradford, was the youngest of the six soldiers killed.

The fiance of Private Daniel Wade, from Warrington, Cheshire, is expecting their first child.

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Yes, we were cringing about it as it happened, but at least you can look back in hindsight and admit they weren’t your finest moments.
Dave says that he and Vicky often laugh about their matching outfits in the past. Hang on, Victoria Beckham can laugh?
Speaking to H&M magazine he said: 'Me and Victoria wore matching black leather outfits once.
'They were Versace. But that's one when I look back and am like, "What were we thinking?"
'We laugh about that one. I remember that it's really good until you do it as a couple.'
We love the way he says it so casually, of course we remember those bloody outfits, they have gone down in history as the most embarrassing ever.
He continues: ' I look back on some stuff and think I can't believe I actually wore that.
'I have no regrets, though - I knew at the time it was good'
No, no, they weren’t good at the time.  We thought we'd had a breakthrough with David and his fashion faux-pas’s but no, it seems not.  Well, at least it means he’ll probably make a few more mistakes in the future with his ‘no regrets’ attitude. 

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You could almost believe Beyonce never was really pregnant, judging by these pictures. Sorry we won’t bring up the whole baby bump saga again.
Seriously though, how the hell does Bey have such a flat stomach just two months after giving birth?
The bootylicious singer looked simply stunning in a Victoria Beckham dress that offered no room for tubby bits. 
Her booty was on fine form as were the rest of her curves, which is good considering she was attending an event hosted by First Lady Michelle.  And if there is ever a time to look womanly and wonderful it’s at dinner with Mich.
According to some reports Beyonce was deliberately wearing blue as a nod to her new baby, Blue Ivy.  We’re not having any of that though because that would be truly lame and Beyonce does not do naff things like that, ok?
In other Beyonce news, besides her bottom being back on top form, she has announced she will be returning to the stage for three concerts in May.
But before you lot get excited, they’re all in Atlantic City. So back to the bottom it is then