A York Army signaller who has just returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan has received a commendation for his work helping to provide essential communications capabilities.

Former Oaklands Secondary School student Corporal Trevor Carter, 30, who serves with the 1st Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment, was presented with the Princess Mary Medal and the Signal Officer in Chief’s Commendation at a medals parade at his home barracks in Herford, Germany.

Corporal Carter, who also received an Afghan campaign medal, was based at Kandahar, Kabul and Sangin. He said: “It was tough; there was a lot of work to do, which meant that the tour seemed to go by quite quickly.

“During my first week there, the base in Sangin was attacked by 20 insurgents. I provided fire support. Although I was an electrician there, I am a soldier first, so I did my bit. The first rounds started to land around us – rockets and mortars, and we retaliated.”

The Princess Mary Medal and the Signal Officer in Chief’s Commendation are rare honours bestowed on signallers. Cpl Carter was the only member of his regiment to receive it.

Meanwhile, a cadet from East Yorkshire met the Queen at Buckingham Palace before being treated to a tour of 10 Downing Street. Cadet Sergeant Major Chris Barron, 18, of Market Weighton, was one of 26 cadets in the UK selected to take part in the national launch of a year of celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of the cadet force. The sixth-form pupil at Market Weighton School, was invited to Buckingham Palace, where he told the Queen about his plans for the cadet’s 150th anniversary year.

“I absolutely loved the whole day,” said Chris, who plans to go to university next year to study criminology before joining the police.

“Meeting the Queen was a great honour and I couldn’t believe how big 10 Downing Street was – it was massive, a real Tardis.”