AN army medic from Devizes who has been given a medal by the Duke of Edinburgh is looking forward to being home in time for Christmas.

Sami Quinton, 21, was presented with an Afghanistan campaign medal by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in Paderborn, Germany, where she is based as part of The Queen’s Royal Hussars.

She said: “It was a fantastic experience and to have His Royal Highness present me with my medal was a really proud moment.”

Miss Quinton’s mum Sarah was able to attend the parade in Germany and watched her daughter and 100 other soldiers receive their medals.

Mrs Quinton said: “It was such an amazing day. I am so proud of Sami and all the lads that were on tour with her. To meet and talk with the Duke of Edinburgh was an honour.”

The former Devizes School pupil returned home on Friday to spend Christmas with her parents and two sisters at their home Fruitfields Close.

L/Cpl Quinton is a first response medic tasked with assisting fellow soldiers and local Afghans. The tour, from June to September, was her first and she was the only female medic with the squadron.

She said: “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved during our deployment; it was great to be able to do my job, treating the lads and the local Afghans when necessary when we were out on patrol.

“It was hard to get used to start with but because of all the training we do you develop a good bond with the lads and just get on with your job. It makes me proud that I was there to look after them.”

The group of almost 200 was one of the last British combat units sent to the country before the final withdrawal from Camp Bastion at the end of October.

It carried out 11 major operations alongside Afghan security forces in Helmand Province.

L/Cpl Quinton joined the Army in March 2011 and has been based in Germany for the past three years. She has now applied for a transfer to become a nurse.