I may be wrong, but the last time I remember a British Army victory parade (in the best Victorian tradition) was following the Falklands. But when they're sent to enforce some strategic political aim in a territory not actually owned by or closely related to us, the attitude of the general public seems to be that, oh well, they're just off to their nine-to-fives again.
I think if the Royal Marines expelled an invasion force from the Isle of Wight, or the USMC ejected one from, say, Florida, then we would see our tickertape parades again. But these Global involvements, reflecting the will and decisions of so many different allies, are too big and complex for the average man in the street to comprehend.
Despite this, we still cherish this idea of a "volunteer" Army as being an essential, I suppose because it hopefully reflects the consent of the general population.
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