Royal Engineers awarded Sword of Peace for humanitarian work overseas

Soldiers from the Royal Engineers have been awarded a top prize for their humanitarian work.

36 Engineer Regiment, based at Invicta Barracks in Maidstone, were presented with the Firmin Sword of Peace for operations in Africa, the Falklands and Nepal.

  • Video report from ITV News Meridian reporter Malcolm Shaw

The regiment's most recent deployment was on Operation Trenton 5, providing engineering support to a United Nation's mission to South Sudan.

Teams worked on the construction of a new hospital, but the highlight was a road building project that save hundreds of women and girls from long journeys on foot, where they were at risk of sexual violence.

Officer Commanding 36 Engineering Regiment, Lt Col Mark Jones, said: "The greatest personal achievement, I think, was the completion of the 30km of road.

"This allowed the world food programme to take supplies to the beneficiaries of that and stop them having to walk a 60km round trip."

Individual soldiers received commendations, like Warrant Officer Andy Hurren.

"South Sudan itself was an incredibly difficult place to work," said WO2 Hurren.

"I ended the tour, and I think many others did, knowing we'd helped a lot of people.

"At the end of the day if you can pat yourself on the back knowing you've helped people, that's all you really want."

Some of the regiments other work over the past year was also recognised, including a grueling exercise in Kenya.

Cpl Manoj Gurung said: "We deployed as part of a battle group with 1 Rifles.

"I was one of the section commanders from 36 and the Queen's Gurkha Engineers.

"My task was to maintain the combat engineer support as a section commander."

Lieutenant General Ivan Jones (R), Commander Field Army, presented the sword to the regiment

Closer to home, 36 Engineer Regiment hosted safety training for more than 1000 local children across Kent.

And safety was also key on the parade ground, as less than half of the regiment took part in the ceremony and march past, so they could maintain social distancing.

The award, originally established as the Wilkinson Sword of Peace in 1966, is presented to a unit of each branch of the armed forces for work on peace keeping or humanitarian work.

It was presented by Lieutenant General Ivan Jones, Commander Field Army.

It's the second time 36 Engineer Regiment has won the award, having previously picked up the prize in 1996 for their work in Bosnia.