Soldiers from a Rutland base who provided surveillance and early warning of attacks for troops in Afghanistan have been presented with their campaign medals.
About 40 soldiers of 20 Battery, 16 Regiment Royal Artillery spent six months in Helmand province.
They were presented with their Operation Herrick campaign medals at their base, St George's Barracks, in North Luffenham, earlier today.
Their medals were presented by Air Commodore Jane Millington in recognition of the regiment's air defence role working with the RAF.
The soldiers, who returned to their families at the base last month(apr), served at 21 different bases in the province, providing surveillance and security coverage using specialist intelligence-gathering equipment.
Among their roles was the protection of troops from rocket and mortar attack at Camp Bastion.
Air Commodore Millington, who praised the battery's dedication, said: "We owe you a debt of gratitude and welcome you back."
The battery's next deployment in September will be to man their traditional Rapier air defence system in The Falklands.
For more pictures and interviews with the soldiers, see the website and paper tomorrow.
