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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Duchess praises soldiers' courage | Duchess praises soldiers' courage |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Britain owes an "enormous debt" to the soldiers who have fought in Afghanistan, the Duchess of Cornwall has said. | Britain owes an "enormous debt" to the soldiers who have fought in Afghanistan, the Duchess of Cornwall has said. |
| She praised members of 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 Rifles) as she presented campaign medals at Bulford Camp near Salisbury in Wiltshire. | She praised members of 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 Rifles) as she presented campaign medals at Bulford Camp near Salisbury in Wiltshire. |
| The duchess paid tribute to their "unswerving courage and professionalism". | The duchess paid tribute to their "unswerving courage and professionalism". |
| The battalion has recently returned from five months in Afghanistan. | The battalion has recently returned from five months in Afghanistan. |
| Two of the members of 4 Rifles - formerly the 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets - Rifleman Samuel Bassett, 20, and Rifleman Daniel Hume, 22, were killed in action during the tour. | |
| Another battalion soldier - 21-year-old L/Cpl Taran Cheeseman - died of cancer shortly after his return to the UK. | |
| Incredibly challenging | Incredibly challenging |
| Addressing 350 soldiers, the duchess - who became royal colonel of 4 Rifles when the battalion was formed in 2007 - said: "This has been an incredibly challenging year for you all. | Addressing 350 soldiers, the duchess - who became royal colonel of 4 Rifles when the battalion was formed in 2007 - said: "This has been an incredibly challenging year for you all. |
| "You have worked in the most dangerous, arduous and austere conditions, under constant attack, patrolling among the poppies of the Green Zone with the ever present threat of IEDs (improvised explosive devices). | "You have worked in the most dangerous, arduous and austere conditions, under constant attack, patrolling among the poppies of the Green Zone with the ever present threat of IEDs (improvised explosive devices). |
| "You have forged an enviable and glittering reputation in your own right. | "You have forged an enviable and glittering reputation in your own right. |
| "You have made your royal colonel very proud, proud of you and proud to be British and I believe this country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude." | "You have made your royal colonel very proud, proud of you and proud to be British and I believe this country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude." |
| Home fires | Home fires |
| The duchess inspects troops on the parade ground | The duchess inspects troops on the parade ground |
| During the five-month tour of Afghanistan more than 30 members of 4 Rifles were wounded, four of them seriously. | During the five-month tour of Afghanistan more than 30 members of 4 Rifles were wounded, four of them seriously. |
| There was applause and cheers from the crowd watching the ceremony as wounded soldiers paraded into the ground with their colleagues. | There was applause and cheers from the crowd watching the ceremony as wounded soldiers paraded into the ground with their colleagues. |
| One of the injured men, L/Cpl Tyler Christopher, who lost both legs after stepping on an improvised mine, entered in his wheelchair, but stood to greet the duchess and receive his medal. | One of the injured men, L/Cpl Tyler Christopher, who lost both legs after stepping on an improvised mine, entered in his wheelchair, but stood to greet the duchess and receive his medal. |
| During her speech the duchess said she was "greatly heartened" to see many of the injured at the parade as "I know how hard their road to recovery has been". She also praised the soldiers' families: "Your loyalty, love and support have been unfaltering and vital to the success of these men on parade. | During her speech the duchess said she was "greatly heartened" to see many of the injured at the parade as "I know how hard their road to recovery has been". She also praised the soldiers' families: "Your loyalty, love and support have been unfaltering and vital to the success of these men on parade. |
| "It is for them that the home fires must be kept burning and nobody does it better than you." | "It is for them that the home fires must be kept burning and nobody does it better than you." |
| She held a private meeting with wounded soldiers and their families after the parade. | She held a private meeting with wounded soldiers and their families after the parade. |
| Sgt John Bolam spent 10 weeks in hospital after receiving abdominal and facial injuries. | Sgt John Bolam spent 10 weeks in hospital after receiving abdominal and facial injuries. |
| He said: "Today has been an extremely proud day, not just for me but for everyone, especially those that have been badly injured, to see them on parade was a great moment. | He said: "Today has been an extremely proud day, not just for me but for everyone, especially those that have been badly injured, to see them on parade was a great moment. |
| "I spoke with the duchess about my injuries and I thanked her for the bottle of Highgrove whisky that she sent to me. | "I spoke with the duchess about my injuries and I thanked her for the bottle of Highgrove whisky that she sent to me. |
| "She sends whisky and letters to injured soldiers and no matter what the battalion does she is there to support us and the family." | "She sends whisky and letters to injured soldiers and no matter what the battalion does she is there to support us and the family." |