BRAVE soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) received campaign medals from the Prince of Wales at Sandringham House in Norfolk following their recent return from Afghanistan.
The battalion, which saw active service on the front line in war-torn Helmand province, suffered 12 fatalities during its six-month tour of duty.
In addition to awarding the soldiers their medals, Prince Charles, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, presented Elizabeth Crosses to the families of those who lost their lives.
After awarding the medals, the prince joined the families and friends of the battalion for a reception with the Duchess of Cornwall.
Clarence House said: “As part of his role supporting the armed services, His Royal Highness makes a point of meeting soldiers and their families whenever possible and meets with the head of his regiments on a regular basis”.
The prince became Colonel-in- Chief of the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment in 1977 and has held the same position with the Mercian Regiment since its formation in 2007.
The Cheshire’s main role in Helmand was to mentor local security forces and provide security on the ground as part of the development of creating normal, everyday life in Afghanistan.
