News
HRH presents Iraq operation medals to the Royal Dragoon Guards
23rd July 2008
The Prince of Wales presented military honours to soldiers from the Royal Dragoon Guards at Clarence House today.
His Royal Highness, who has been Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment since 1992, presented operation medals to around 90 soldiers who had been responsible for training Iraqi forces to defend their country's borders and patrol the streets of Basra.
Before the ceremony began the troops, dressed in camouflage fatigues, proudly marched from the nearby Wellington Barracks past Buckingham Palace to the royal residence.
Lieutenant Kes Srikanthan, 25, a troop leader whose role saw him monitoring and mentoring the training of the Iraqi troops said: "This has been the first time that I've wanted the marching to go on a bit longer."
The officer from Biddenham in Bedfordshire served in the country for six months before returning to barracks in May. He added: "This has been a great day, I'm not someone who gets easily moved but this was very special.
"It's also nice The Prince takes the time out to speak to all of us and genuinely seems pleased to be taking part."
The Prince spent almost an hour pinning the operation medals on the chests of around 130 soldiers who stood lined up in the gardens of Clarence House.
Some of the troops only spent three months in Iraq. They returned early to their bases in Germany at the beginning of February after the security situation improved while others stayed longer.
Their time in the country was described as "challenging and dangerous" with the British troops helping to train Iraqi soldiers responsible for patrolling the Iraq-Iran border.
Around 90 British soldiers were involved in working with the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement, helping to stop smuggling and to train troops to prevent illegal cross-border activity.
Others focused on building the skills of the local soldiers from the UK's main base in Basra.
Following the medal presentation The Prince met the soldiers and a group of relatives at a reception in the gardens of Clarence House.
Trooper Dennis Baker who was injured during a rocket attack last December just three weeks into his tour of Iraq said he was proud to receive his medal from The Prince.
The soldier is a Challenger 2 tank driver and was deployed to Iraq on his 18th birthday, 10th November 2007.
He added: "I was off duty when we were rocketed. I was getting off a bus when the alarm went off and the rocket exploded about five metres from me.
"A piece of shrapnel hit me in the face breaking my jaw and another went into my back and came out my hip."
The 18-year-old from Bradford made a quick recovery but did not return to the Middle East as many of his regiment were due to return home.
He said: "Today has been fantastic. My family and friends are really proud of me - at first they were upset after I was hurt but they're fine now."
Click here to find out more about The Prince's regiments and links to the Armed Services.