YOU could hear the cheering over the sound of the military band and see the ocean of flags was waving even before the first of the soldiers came into sight.

When the 1st, The Rifles did come it was not so much an arrival as an explosion; an awesome phalanx of soldiers in desert camouflage marching at the double-quick light infantry pace.

It is a march designed to shock and awe an enemy but this was no enemy territory as 400 soldiers of the battalion marched straight into the hearts of the Gwent people.

Chepstow has always been a place for heroes.

Dozens of names of men from all services and regiments are cast in bronze on the memorial to the dead of two wars and conflicts since.

Nearby, the gun taken from a German submarine and given to the town by George V commemorates the bravery of Able Seaman William Charles Williams VC whose sacrifice during Gallipoli landings of 1915 allowed hundreds of ship-borne troops to make a safe landing.

Both of these memorials the men of the 1st Rifles would have seen as they snapped an 'eyes' left at the saluting dias, the shouts and cheers of the crowd ringing in their ears.

There was no need to point out the poignancy of this for the people had made the connection for themselves; both the gun and the war memorial were swathed in scarlet poppies.

The powerful force of the five marching columns created waves before them.

As one column approached there was a flurry of flags and a near-deafening roar.

'Come on, boys!' some people were exultantly shouting, but others were moved to tears.

The wall of sound and colour washed over the troops as they marched, diminished for a while and once more rose to a crescendo as the next column marched into view.

The uniformity of the marching columns, each soldiers with his desert fatigues and the green beret of the light infantry and cap badge of hunting-horn and Royal crown, contrasted with the throng.

Young mothers held their babies up to see the marching soldiers and old soldiers proudly wearing regimental ties and veteran badges proudly stiffened as the troops marched by.

One group of motorcyclists on closer inspection turned out to be not Hell's Angels but members of the Bikers' branch of the Royal British Legion.

Former airman Ian McLauchlan of Undy said "I'm here to support the Rifles who today represent all the troops who have served, or are serving in Afghanistan.

"Anyone who thinks the soldiers don't have the support of the public should be here today."

Alex Poole of Caldicot, who served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and also a RBL biker said "I took the day off work just to be here.

"It is utterly fantastic to see the support these boys have."

John Rogers who farms near Caldicot enthusiastically waved a faded Union Flag that was a veteran of patriotic occasions, great and small.

"I bought this flag for Her Majesty's coronation and I'm delighted to show it again in honour of these boys," he said.

As the troops saluted the dias the county standard of the Royal British Legion and the Monmouth and Chepstow Legion branches together with those of the Royal Engineers' Association, the Royal Naval Association, the Royal Air Forces Association, the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment and the South Wales Borderers/Royal Regiment of Wales fluttered their tribute in the early summer breeze.

With the last column and the departure of the band the tide gradually receded but for hours afterwards a backwash lingered.

Schoolchildren out for the day from school, old men in reserved flannels and blazers, young people in jeans, bikers and young mothers and middle-aged ladies lingered in the afterglow of the giddying explosion of affection for the Rifles.