Moray soldiers have been awarded a medal of honour in recognition of their service with the United Nations in Africa.
Troops at Kinloss Barracks were deployed to South Sudan six months ago to assist with operation TRENTON, the UK’s contribution to a UN mission in the region.
Around 160 members of 39 Engineer Regiment were dispatched to three areas of the country, including Juba, Bentiu and Malakal, to help the population rebuild their lives following years of arduous conflict.
While battling the country’s sweltering heat, the service personnel undertook a variety of construction-based tasks, including building a new hospital, accommodation for UN staff and essential infrastructure, in addition to running self-defence classes for women in nearby Protection of Civilian sites.
During a prestigious parade at Grant Park in Forres yesterday, troops were presented with the United Nations medal for service by Corps Colonel of the Royal Engineers Matt Quare MB, Lieutenant General Tyrone R Urch CBE, Chief Royal Engineer and Commander Home Command, and the retired Lord Lieutenant of Moray Lt Col Grenville Johnstone CVO OBE OStJ CA.
Col Quare said: “Having served in Africa in the past, I do understand some, but certainly not all of the experiences you have had to deal with and endure.
“It is not easy, but what I can say with absolute confidence that every single one of you on parade today and those who are not here today you have earned your medals and are fully deserving or our recognition.”
Following two years of training, the mission was the first overseas posting for Lieutenant Rosemary Leyshon, 25.
She said: “I deployed with 25 guys under my command, so it was a brilliant experience to actually do what you are trained to do so early on in your career.
“We started building the level two hospital for Malakal. It was a really good task for us to get our teeth stuck into and it was great that it came at the end of the tour.”
Captain Euan Irvine, 29, said: “I enjoyed what we did in South Sudan. The biggest challenge was probably resources. Obviously, we are engineers and need to build stuff, but when you don’t have resources, you can’t do the designs or build what you want. You had to either improvise or be a bit industrious.”
Dozens of proud family members lined the park to salute their dedication to duty.
Mother-of-three Jayne Shorts, 33 from Paisley spoke of her pride in the achievements of her husband, combat engineer, John.
She said: “We are very proud. He was away for six months and it was hard for all of us but he really enjoys it. I support him and we are behind him 100%.
“He was in the reserves when he was young and hewas mobilised for one year. He is going to be deployed again on Trenton 8 in November or December time. He loves it so much that he is going back.”
Meanwhile, Emma Parsons, 27, from Glasgow said her family were privileged to witness the ceremony, in which a medal was awarded to her brother, Corporal Peter Parsons.
She said: “We are really proud of his achievements and the success of his promotion while he was deployed.”