Soldiers who had just returned from Bosnia enjoyed their first cup of tea on British soil and raised cash for charity.
Troops from 10 Transport Regiment have been returning from a peacekeeping tour over the past two weeks.
One hundred and eighty more soldiers came home to Colchester Garrison this week following a six-month tour of duty.
And they were just in time to attend a giant tea party happening country-wide in aid of a servicemen's charity.
SSAFA Forces Help offers support to needy servicemen and their families and co-ordinated 250,000 other brew-ups country-wide.
Captain Harry Lomas, who organised the tea party, said last year's event raised about £350.
He said: "I'm very pleased with the turn out and delighted that the mayor and his wife could come, it is a boost for morale."
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