Journalist receives Friend of the Forces award

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Tristan Nichols has received the Friend of The Forces President's Award following his reporting on soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sierra Leone.

Nichols, defence reporter for the Herald in Plymouth, was also made an honorary Marine by Plymouth's 42 Commando.

The Friends of the Forces Awards, which is sponsored by The Royal British Legion, recognises people from across the UK who make an outstanding contribution to service personnel and their families.

As well as being invited by the MoD and individual units to cover operations in war-torn countries, Nichols pioneered the use of head cameras to expand his online coverage of conflicts and launched an appeal in memory of local soldiers which has raised £54,000 so far.

On the ceremony website, The Royal British Legion adds that "he has been shot at, slept in ditches, and endured temperatures from -42 to +49 degrees".

Lt General Sir John Kiszely, National President of The Royal British Legion said he wanted to thank the journalist for his work.

"The media are extremely important to our understanding of the contribution of our Armed Forces on operations," he said during the awards presentation. "On behalf of the British Armed Forces, The Royal British Legion would like to say a huge thank you."

This is not the first time Nichols has been recognised for his reporting on the armed forces, having already received a regional Friend of the Forces award.