Operational Service medals for 4 YORKS 18.05.12
8The Duke of York has awarded operational medals to members of the 4th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment who have just returned from Afghanistan.
His Royal Highness attended a ceremony at York Racecourse, praising the TA Battalion for its support during Herrick 15.
Normally the crowds gather at the Racecourse to celebrate local racing heroes, here they gathered to celebrate their county's reservists.
The battalion was scattered across Helmand. The Duke awarded their service medals speaking at length to everyone about their different experiences on tour.
Out of more than thirty that deployed, all but one made it home. In November, 28 year old Private Matthew Thornton was killed whilst out on patrol in Babaji. His multiple came under contact, and he hit an IED whilst returning fire. The Battalion felt his loss deeply.
The whole racecourse paused to praise and applaud these soldiers and those regulars they deployed alongside. Their tour is now over, and so is their post tour leave. Many are back to work on Monday taking their medal and their memories with them.