The Afghan medal is awarded for first time service and yesterday around 200 troops serving received the honour from Major General Andrew Farquar during the service.

See our gallery from the medal ceremony

The battalion spent their time mentoring the fledgling Afghan army in Helmand Province in the south of the country. Members of 2 Yorks, also known at the Green Howards, advised Afghan commanders on tactics to fight the Taliban in the demanding Afghan terrain.

The battalion was also heavily involved in the Operation Mar Karada, during which the Afghan town of Musa Qala was wrestled from the control of the Taliban.

Dangerous work in the town included disposing of drugs, arms and munitions.

Troops enabled a school in the town to be reopened, allowing children to return to their classrooms.

A telecommunications mast in the town has also been fixed and work is ongoing to ensure its health centre can begin treating people again.

Their determination in the face of adversity was marked as wives, girlfriends, children and parents turned out for the presentation.

Cpl David Percival, 28, was presented with his Afghan medal in front of his wife Catherine, his three-year-old daughter Olivia and his parents. He worked in the communications core throughout the deployment. He said: "Everyone has worked very hard for their medal and they all deserve it.

"It was the first time I have been involved in proper warfare. Once you get used to it, you get over the shock and can get on with the job.

"My job was to man the communications. If you don't maintain contact, you don't know where everybody is and someone could get injured.

"The hardest part of going away was being apart from all your family."

Tragically, the battalion lost two soldiers in action during the tour, Sgt Lee Johnson and Cpl Damian Lawrence. Another two soldiers, who were attached to the regiment, also died in action. One soldier who had previously served with 2 Yorks was also killed in Afghanistan.

Sgt Johnson, who was 33, and a father of two young children, died just a fortnight before Christmas.

He was taking part in the operations to recapture Musa Qala when an explosive device, thought to be a mine, detonated under a vehicle he was travelling in alongside another soldier.

Cpl Damien Lawrence, 25, was killed two months later while taking part in an operation to clear explosive devices from a compound.

Since returning from Afghanistan the soldiers have attended a memorial service for their fallen colleagues and they remain in the forefront of their mind.

Cpl Percival added: "I'm proud because of what we've done and very proud for the lads who didn't make it back.

"It was a great loss to the battalion. As soon as you get back you think about what has happened and what we have done."

His wife Catherine says she is extremely relieved to have him home.

She said: "Today is something we will never forget. It was a big relief when he came home.