News story

Princess Anne presents 2 LSR with Afghanistan campaign medals

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, has presented personnel from 2 Logistic Support Regiment (2 LSR) with campaign medals following their return from a demanding tour in Afghanistan.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 31 January 2012

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Princess Royal presents a soldier with his Afghanistan campaign medal

During their tour, which took place between March and November 2011, personnel from 2 LSR spread out across Helmand province in support of Germany-based 20th Armoured Brigade, providing transport and communications expertise and also working closely with the Afghan National Army to help prepare them to take over the security of their own country.

Princess Anne, who is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps, presented medals to 2 LSR during a ceremony held at Princess Royal Barracks in northern Germany on Thursday 26 January 2012 before attending a specially-arranged reception with military personnel and their families.

Addressing the soldiers during the parade, she said:

It is with great pride that I am able to be here with you and your families to present your Operational Service Medals for Operation HERRICK 14 - medals that have been hard-earned whilst deployed either with the Close Support Logistic Regiment or as a member of the Theatre Logistic Group.

The regiment has had a very successful tour and you are all to be congratulated on your achievements and professionalism.

The challenges that you all faced are well-known but it is evident that clear and meaningful progress is being made.

Some of you have worked in the most dangerous, arduous and austere conditions, under constant threat from insurgent attack, whilst others have contributed in a more supporting role; every one of you has played an important and significant role.

Your Rear Operations Group, including your welfare team, have worked tirelessly in undertaking a multitude of necessary tasks. Their endeavours to support those of you who remained behind must be acknowledged with thanks. I would also like to extend my gratitude and support to the families of the soldiers.

You should all be incredibly proud of your performance and achievements on Operation HERRICK 14, having served our country, your regiment, your families and each other magnificently.

During their deployment 2 LSR were responsible for setting up and maintaining successful communications between troops on the ground and their bases, as well as running huge convoys which transported personnel and supplies to various locations across Helmand.

The convoys often included off-road cross-country driving in which all personnel needed to be wary of a variety of patrol hazards, from driving at night with no lights and as quietly as possible to avoid giving their position away, to how to handle approaches from people who may or may not be enemy insurgents.

Map-reading and effective and accurate radio communications were also essential on the long journeys which included hours waiting in sweltering temperatures or getting bogged down in torrential rain.

The parade, which was watched by families and included a specially-arranged Royal Guard of Honour, was a proud moment for Lieutenant Colonel David Luedicke, Commanding Officer of 2 LSR. He said:

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, our Colonel-in-Chief, and thank her on behalf of the regiment for taking time out of her busy schedule to present the Operational Service Medal to our soldiers on parade.

2 LSR has had an extremely demanding six months both on operations and back in Germany, not to mention the significant period of training prior to deployment.

I am proud of the achievements of my soldiers on operations and marvel at the steadfastness, courage, stamina and comradeship that they have all displayed.

Published 31 January 2012