Three soldiers, Corporal William Savage, Fusilier Samuel Flint and Private Robert Hetherington, from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, were brought home on Thursday.

The fallen servicemen were flown back from Afghanistan to RAF Brize Norton, where they were taken through the town with full military honours. They were then taken into the care of the family assigned coroners before they will be being laid to rest in their home towns in the coming weeks.

Corporal William Savage’s wife , who lives in Edinburgh, is still to chose whether her husband’s funeral will be held in Penicuik or in his home town in Ayrshire. She is expecting their first child.

All the funerals are expected to be held within the coming two weeks with Fusilier Samuel Flint returning to his family in Blackpool for his burial. Private Robert Hetherington will have a private burial ceremony with only family and close friends attending.

The flags have been flying at half mast in Penicuik since the death of the soldiers last Wednesday and a substantial number of flower bouquets have been left at the gate of the local barracks. The regiment has described the loss as a “hammer-blow”