TROOPS and war veterans will march through Oxfordshire in tribute to their fallen and injured comrades to boost the Poppy Appeal this year.

Hundreds of people are expected to line the streets along route – which includes Oxford, Bicester and West Oxfordshire – during the two-day March 4 Honour in November.

Members of the Royal Air Force will march through the county as part of the nationwide event aimed at raising more than £1m for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

Starting in four separate locations across the UK, the four teams – also including Marines, Army and Navy personnel – will march a combined total of 1,000 miles in uniform and carrying 40lb of equipment.

The event will include 515 miles of ‘speed marching’ to mark the number of personnel killed in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.

Last night RBL county manager Linda Flecknell urged people to back the event.

She said: “March 4 Honour is a fantastic initiative. It gives every person in Oxfordshire and the UK the chance to honour today’s fallen and also support the rehabilitation of today’s injured service personnel.

“We are delighted March 4 Honour is passing through the county.”

On Saturday, November 6, Oxfordshire Royal British Legion staff will take over responsibility for the troops in Towcester, just across the county border in Northamptonshire.

They will then guide them through Bicester as they make their way towards Oxford, where they are expected to arrive in the afternoon.

On the Sunday, the troops will start in the city at 9am before heading west towards Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, where they will finish their walk.

A total of 336 servicemen and woman have been killed since operations started in Afghanistan in 2001.

Another 179 were killed in Iraq.

March 4 Honour is the brainchild of Lance Corporal Ram Patten, a Royal Marines Commando based in Plymouth.

After being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, he decided to launch an event to raise awareness of the struggle troops can face. He said: “I underwent nine months of therapy, with two to three sessions a week.

“However, my story is incomparable to the difficulties that many servicemen and women have endured.

“My experience may be just a drop in the ocean, but every drop can make a significant ripple.

“My aim is to turn that ripple into a wave of public awareness and charitable donations, which will help look after those affected by war.

“The United Kingdom is coming to terms with the fact that more and more families either know someone, or are related to someone, who has been affected by war in some way, shape, or form.”

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk For more information visit march4honour.com