Army

British Troops Awarded Service Medals For Work In South Sudan

Op Trenton service medals given to 39 Engineer Regiment (Picture: 39 Engineer Regiment).

Soldiers were given the medals in Grant Park, Forres (Picture: 39 Engineer Regiment).

British troops who have been deployed on a UN mission to South Sudan have been awarded service medals.

A total of 160 soldiers from 39 Engineer Regiment marched through the Scottish town of Forres before being presented with the medals in front of family and friends.

For the last six months, the engineers have been in South Sudan on Operation Trenton.

Earlier this month, Forces News was granted exclusive access into the work of 39 Engineer Regiment in South Sudan - the world's youngest country.

Since July 2011, the United Nations has been carrying out a mission in the country, known as UNMISS, to protect civilians and restore durable peace in the region.

160 soldiers were awarded with medals (Picture: 39 Engineer Regiment).

The troops were based in Juba, the capital, and near two protection of civilian camps (or POCs) at Bentiu and Malakal.

Their work was focused on improving facilities for other UN troops and strengthening and securing the POCs' protective fences.

Two more engineering units are set to replace 39 Engineer Regiment in the country, however, the operation is expected to end in March 2020.

A team of 14,000 people, among them peacekeepers, police, security and civilian personnel, from more than 60 different countries are currently active in the country as part of UNMISS.