Callum's brush with royalty after Afghan tour (From The Northern Echo)

Callum's brush with royalty after Afghan tour

3:26pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Bedale News By Andy Walker

A SQUADDIE who came under attack in Afghanistan came face-to-face with royalty on his return, when he was presented with his campaign medal by the Princess Royal.

Private Callum Parker, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, spent a demanding six months in Helmand Province last year, with colleagues from 2 Logistics Support Regiment.

The 19-year-old was part of a unit providing transport and communications expertise and working with the Afghan army, as it prepares to assume responsibility for security in the country.

The Princess, who is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistics Corps presented the medals at barracks in Germany, before enjoying lunch with military personnel and their families.

Pte Parker, a former Bedale High School student, joined the Army in 2009. He was a driver during his time in Afghanistan, ferrying vital supplies between bases across Helmand.

He said: "The tour was good experience, the longest run we did was 67 hours, when our convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device.

“We knew there could be others in the area so we had to stay in the vehicles, sleeping in them overnight which was difficult.

“We started to move off the next morning and came under attack again so had to stop.

“I wasn’t scared – you have to deal with it. We did about a year of training in the lead up so we were prepared."

No one was hurt in the skirmish.

Pte Parker described the Princess as “very friendly, down-to-earth and easy to talk to”.

He added: “It’s not everyone who is presented with their medal from a member of the royal family. She asked me where I live and how long I had been in the Army."

The teenager’s parents, Ian and Jane, who live in Bedale, travelled to Germany for the presentation.

Mrs Parker said: "We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I am so proud of him. He couldn’t tell us too much about what he was doing out there while he was in Afghanistan, but we were able to stay in contact."