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The Duchess presents campaign medals to her regiment 4th Battalion, The Rifles at Bulford Camp
14th December 2009
The Duchess of Cornwall said the country owed an "enormous debt" to soldiers who fought in Afghanistan as she presented campaign medals today.
In a speech Her Royal Highness praised members of 4th Battalion, The Rifles for their "unswerving courage and professionalism".
She addressed the 350 soldiers standing on parade at Bulford Camp, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, as well as hundreds of their friends and families.
The Duchess became Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion when the new battalion - formerly the 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets - was formed on 1st February 2007.
She said today: "This has been an incredibly challenging tour for you all. You have worked in the most dangerous, arduous and austere conditions, under constant attack, patrolling among the poppies of the Green Zone with the ever present threat of IEDs.
"You have forged an enviable and glittering reputation in your own right. You have made your Royal Colonel very proud, proud of you and proud to be British and I believe this country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude."
The battalion lost two members, Rifleman Daniel Hume was killed in action and Lance Corporal Taran Cheeseman died of cancer shortly after his return to the UK.
In early October, R Company returned after playing a key role in Operation Panther's Claw, a surge against the Taliban.
One Fire Support Group was deployed as the Battle Group Quick Reaction Force and the Rifles also took part in an operation to clear a village which had become a Taliban command centre.
In early November, B Company and the 4 Rifles Staff Cell returned to barracks after serving with the Election Support Force in the Nad-e-Ali District.
While on the five-month tour, more than 30 members of the Battalion were injured, four of them seriously. The crowd cheered as some of the wounded soldiers paraded into the ground with their colleagues.
Lance Corporal Tyler Christopher lost both legs after stepping on an IED. He came on to the parade ground in a wheelchair but stood to a round of applause, using aids, to meet The Duchess and receive his Afghanistan Service Medal.
During her speech The Duchess said she was "greatly heartened" to see many of the injured at the parade. She commented: "I know how hard their road to recovery has been."
The Duchess shook hands and chatted with soldiers for around an hour, wearing a dark green military-style coat made specifically for her role as Royal Colonel.
She also praised the families of soldiers. She said: "Your loyalty, love and support have been unfaltering and vital to the success of these men on parade.
"It is for them that the home fires must be kept burning and nobody does it better than you."
The Duchess held a private meeting with wounded soldiers and their families after the parade before meeting more service personnel during a lunch reception.
Members of the battalion continue to support 11 Light Brigade in Afghanistan. A Company is now serving with the 3rd Battalion, The Rifles Battle Group in Helmand.
Rifleman Samuel Bassett, who was serving with the Battle Group, died in hospital following an IED explosion on 8th November.
During the lunch reception with the soldiers and their families The Duchess met Captain Harry Parker, who lost both legs in an explosion. Capt. Parker had earlier received a medal from his father Lieutenant General Sir Nick Parker.
Sergeant John Bolam, 34, was injured in the same IED explosion that killed Rifleman Daniel Hume on July 9. He suffered abdominal and facial injuries and was in hospital for 10 weeks.
Today he paraded with his comrades, a moment he said he had been working towards. "Today has been an extremely proud day, not just for me but for everyone, especially those that have been badly injured, to see them on parade was a great moment," he said.
"I spoke with The Duchess about my injuries and I thanked her for the bottle of Highgrove whisky that she sent to me.
"She sends whisky and letters to injured soldiers, and no matter what the Battalion does she is there to support us and the family."
Second Lieutenant Will Blyth, 23, from Hertford was platoon commander in B Company on the tour.
"I was in command of a checkpoint which is extremely challenging, especially to get that responsibility so early on," he said.
"It is great to go away and do the job in Afghanistan and then come back to these events, because they mean a lot.
"The sad fact is that going on operations means people will get hurt, but to be able to parade, receive medals and stand alongside your comrades is what every soldier wants to do.
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