News
TRH present medals to Afghanistan Forces
1st July 2009
Royal Navy helicopter pilots, ground staff and Royal Marines who have served in Afghanistan received their campaign medals from TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall today.
122 members of the three squadrons marched through the London sunshine to Clarence House. TRH then presented the servicemen and women from the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) with their military honours in a ceremony that was watched by the recipients’ friends and families.
All three of the CHF's front line squadrons - Sea King helicopters from 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons (NAS) and Lynx helicopters from 847 NAS - have been deployed in the Middle East country during recent years.
The servicemen and women provide aviation support essential to UK Forces fighting in Afghanistan's Helmand province and Nato troops in surrounding areas.
Captain Jon Pentreath, commanding officer of the CHF, said after the event: "Today has been an emotional roller coaster for the men and women of the Force.
"It was a rare privilege and honour for members of my Force to receive their Operational Service Medals from Their Royal Highnesses, and witnessed by so many of their families.
"The occasion will be remembered with great pride and much fondness."
The Prince, and The Duchess who was dressed in a short-sleeved, white summer gown and matching wide-brim hat, pinned medals on the Royal Navy personnel as they stood in the gardens of Clarence House.
TRH moved among the rows of officers and their men, stopping to chat to all of them and share the occasional laugh as well.
After the medal presentations, The Prince and The Duchess hosted a reception for the service personnel and their families.
Lieutenant Alex Hampson, 27, from Exeter, returned in May from a three-month tour of duty in Afghanistan and described the day as "absolutely brilliant".
He added: "It's great to receive the medals today, but it's really about our families. It's great to have them here so they can share in the experience."
The Sea King helicopter pilot, 845 Squadron, said jokingly: "In Afghanistan, we are basically bus runners and taxi drivers transporting troops around. It's safer to transport the men by air than the ground and that's pretty much what we do.
"But today is a day for the family and I've got my mother, Pam, and father, Brian, with me, which is great."
The Prince has a long association with 845 Squadron. He served with the unit as a helicopter pilot in 1975 and was the first member of the Royal Family to fly in an operational Fleet Air Arm squadron.