Airborne medics have been awarded the prestigious Firmin Sword of Peace, given to forces units for going above and beyond their duty.
16 Medical Regiment received the award from the Duke of Gloucester, colonel-in-chief of the Royal Army Medical Service, at Colchester’s Merville Barracks.
The citation praised the unit’s personnel as “the very best of representatives for the United Kingdom”, recognising their role in treating victims of the devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023 and for supporting the evacuation of British personnel from Sudan, among other tasks.
After the Turkey earthquake, the unit worked with the local health services and non-governmental organisations to establish a medical facility at the heavily-damaged town of Turkoglu, treating 6,300 patients,
During the Sudan evacuation, troops provided the sole surgical facility supporting the international operation.
Of the 2,450 people evacuated by the British military, 350 were treated for conditions ranging from extreme heat injury to gunshot wounds.
SSgt Elaine Bell (RAMS), a biomedical scientist who deployed on both operations, said: “It’s a proud moment to receive this award.
“It was a high tempo period with lots of hard work, but it is very rewarding to have the skills to help people when they need it most.”
