THE sister of fallen soldier Jason Williams said she had mixed emotions as she saw her brother’s regiment return home without him.

Pte Williams, 23, from Worcester, was killed in August after stepping on a bomb while trying to retrieve the body of an Afghan army soldier who had been killed in an earlier attack.

Jennifer Williams and her boyfriend Keir Dixon represented the Williams family at the ceremony and the march.

She said: “Today has been lovely but it has been really mixed emotions. It’s lovely to see them all come home before Christmas but we wish that Jason was there with them.”

Miss Williams, 28, of Rainbow Hill Terrace, was presented with the candle lit for her brother but said the ceremony had been difficult.

She said: “I found that upsetting. One of the hymns was from Jason’s funeral so that brings back memories. It was emotional. It was quite hard for Aaron Davis, who lit the candle for him. I think he was in floods of tears.”

Miss Williams described Jason as a loving, caring brother. She said: “He didn’t like conflict or arguments. He was very easy and laid back. He’d do anything for you. He was a lovely brother.”

She described her as a natural born soldier but said she was sad he had died at a time when he had felt happy and confident and was looking to the future.

Miss Williams, who was wearing the Elizabeth cross awarded to her brother after his death, said her mother had not felt able to attend.

The family had also had a private meeting with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall on Wednesday.

They were at Sandringham along with members of the regiment who were awarded their service medals.