BBC NEWS | UK | England | Kent | Queen gives Iraq service medals
The Queen presented soldiers with Operational Service Medals
Soldiers in the Canterbury-based 1st Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders received the awards.
The troops were also presented with the Wilkinson Sword of Peace. The Queen inspected the guard before making the ceremonial presentation.
She also met families of soldiers and presented children with prizes during Tuesday's visit.
She later lunched with senior members of the unit.
Security force
Among the soldiers presented with Operational Service Medals was L/Cpl Gary Hannah, 21, from Greenock in Scotland , who lost his left leg after his vehicle was hit by a rocket during operations in Iraq.
He hopes to accompany the regiment on operations next year in Bosnia.
The Queen is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
The Queen also met the regiment's Shetland pony mascot, Cruachan
Troops returned to Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent, in July.
The battalion had been sent to Iraq in January to train about 5,000 Iraqis for the country's new security force.
Many soldiers said the experience had been the toughest of their careers.
The Wilkinson Sword of Peace, given each year to a unit that has formed good relations with a community at home or overseas, was awarded for their work in Iraq.
While at the barracks, the Queen also met the regiment's mascot, Cruachan, a 15-year-old Shetland pony, and his companion, Islay.
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