A Ross soldier has been presented with his campaign medal by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal after a demanding six month tour of Afghanistan.

Private Luke Smith, 19 deployed to Afghanistan with 2 Logistics Support Regiment (2LSR) from March to October. During the tour members of his unit spread out across Helmand Province providing transport and communications expertise. They also worked 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 Logistics Corps presented medals to 2LSR at Princess Royal Barracks in northern Germany before attending a specially arranged lunch with military personnel and their families.

Former John Kyrle High School student Luke. who joined the Army in 2009. was a driver during his tour in Afghanistan. transporting vital fuel to Forward Operating Bases and Patrol Bases across Helmand. He said: "I spent a lot of time with the infantry and had a good tour. lt was the best thing that I have done.

"We had a couple of enemy strikes on our compound, but you can't panic in those situations. We are trained well in what to do when things like that happen, we just put our training into practice.

"I was proud to receive my medal from Princess Anne - she asked about my time in the Regiment and about the training and my job."

During their deployment 2LSR 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. They also had to drive at night with no lights and as quietly as possible to avoid giving their position away. 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.

Luke's parents, Graham and Dawn, travelled to Germany to watch the presentation and also met the Princess in a reception after the parade, Dawn said: "We are really proud, it is really lovely that someone from the Royal family could come out here to present the medals."

Addressing the soldiers during the parade, Princess Anne said: "lt 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 – 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."