Princess Royal presents medal to officer during her visit to Royal Logistic Corps

An Army officer has been handed a medal by the Princess Royal after he deployed on a six-month peacekeeping tour in Somalia last year. 

Captain Mark Livingstone, who serves with 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, was presented with the General Service Medal during the royal's visit to the Colchester-based unit. 

Princess Anne acts as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps. 

• The Grenadier Guards: Celebrating 370 years of pomp, ceremony – and fighting spirit
• Grenadier Guards troop Colour before the King with all three services present for first time
• King presents new Colours just days before Grenadier Guards will return the favour

The General Service Medal (GSM) 2008 is awarded to service personnel who have served on operations in several geographical locations, including Eastern Africa. It has a clasp for the relevant geographical area. 

"It's always good to get a medal, but I'm even prouder to receive this one from the Princess Royal," Capt Livingstone said. 

"Her Royal Highness has been to Somalia and was interested in how the country is developing."

British troops have been deployed to Somalia since 2016 to train the Somali national army and support African Union efforts to combat al-Shabaab militants. 

Capt Livingstone explained that Mogadishu is dealing with "a lot of challenges". 

While he was deployed, he taught logistics to Somali soldiers and learnt how to work with people from a very different background. 

Capt Livingstone, 32, also shared his specialist skills as an ammunition technical officer, responsible for the safe management, maintenance, storage and disposal of munitions. 

"My brother wanted to join the Army, and I went along to the careers office with him," he said. 

"I found myself interested and started an application to Sandhurst then and there. 

"I just went for it and have found it to be a very rewarding and interesting career."

Capt Livingstone has served for a decade and also deployed on Operation Cabrit, which sees British troops deployed to secure Nato's eastern flank. 

13 Air Assault Support Regiment gives specialist logistic capabilities to 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and outside government departments and is part of the UK's Global Response Force.