OPERATIONAL HONOURS AND AWARDS

9 Sep 2005 04:00 AM

Over 100 UK Service personnel are to be given honours for their role in operations around the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, the former Yugoslavia, Liberia, the Congo and Sierra Leone. There are also awards for non-combat gallantry in Search and Rescue Missions.

Secretary of State for Defence, John Reid, said:

"I am delighted that Her Majesty has seen fit to mark the outstanding gallantry, professionalism and commitment of so many Service personnel operating in difficult and challenging environments. I am immensely proud of their achievements and congratulate them all."

The Military Cross is awarded to Major Colin Risso, Royal Gibraltar Regiment, for outstanding courage, decisiveness under fire and leadership. He was part of a Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Sharana Province in Afghanistan when the US convoy he was travelling with was ambushed. "Despite the convoy being under considerable small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire, Major Risso reacted coolly and placed himself in considerable danger by returning fire on the key element of the ambush from his soft-skinned vehicle". Having been instrumental in suppressing the enemy assault, he moved away from the stranded main convoy to secure the flank to deter any further enemy assault. He later assisted in establishing a command post, directed further defences and evacuated casualties and reassured the US convoy personnel who had been severely shaken by the ferocity of the attack and the loss of comrades.

Leading Seaman (Diver) Garth Spence receives the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for displaying the highest possible levels of professionalism and courage during the recovery operation of the stricken HMCS Chicoutimi in atrocious weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean. Leading Seaman Spence from the Northern Diving Group embarked in HMS MONTROSE at short notice and volunteered to be part of the casing party required to establish a towline to the submarine. Whilst preparing the submarine to receive a towline from a small seaboat alongside, a Canadian Seaman was washed overboard from HMCS Chicoutimi and became entangled in an underwater obstruction and was unable to break free. "Quickly realising the life-threatening position of the trapped seaman", Leading Seaman Spence without regard of his own personal safety "removed his own lifejacket and dived into the water". Despite the terrible sea conditions he managed to free the sailor. In effecting this brave rescue Leading Seaman Spence "placed himself in a life-threatening position to preserve the life of a fellow mariner"

Master Aircrew Nicholas Petch from RAF St Mawgan is awarded the Air Force Cross for "his selfless courage, stamina and consummate professionalism in exceptionally difficult conditions" during the rescue of civilians in Scarborough North Bay in March 2005. Despite incredibly high seas, spray up to 50 feet, Master Aircrew Petch insisted on being lowered on the helicopter's winch into the raging seas to winch those who had been washed into the seas by the freak storm. He was frequently submerged in the seas and in constant danger of being washed against the sea wall or smashed against the rocks which were perilously close, but pressed on despite his own personal danger to find and save 2 casualties from the maelstrom. On both occasions he was unable to use the winch harness and had to resort to physically gripping the casualties in his arms whist being winched to safety, which is extremely physically demanding. "Despite the awful conditions, his exhaustion, the intense cold and having swallowed a great deal of sea water he continued to search the area tirelessly", being winched into the sea on numerous occasions searching for other casualties. Eventually his search was terminated as the aircraft had to refuel.

Notes to Editors

1. Awards to members of the Armed Forces are published on 9 September 2005 in the London Gazette. The ranks and other personal details shown are those current at the time the awards were recommended.

2. A full list of awards can be found at www.mod.uk/honours.

OPERATIONAL AWARDS LIST NO 25

Honours and Awards to members of the Armed Forces for services on operations in Northern Ireland, the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and other miscellaneous operations for the period 1st October 2004 to 31st March 2005. Additionally there are eight awards in recognition of non-combatant gallantry together with nineteen American awards to British Personnel.

NORTHERN IRELAND

MBE

Captain Alan Maclean ADAMS
Intelligence Corps

Captain Christopher Mark Ian HALL
Royal Marines

Warrant Officer Class 1 James Michael HOOK
Royal Corps of Signals

Captain Alastair James MAWBY
Intelligence Corps

Squadron Leader Patrick Liam O'KENNEDY
Royal Air Force

QCVS

Sergeant Richard Graham SQUIRES
Royal Marines

Warrant Officer Class 1 Robert Ramsay ALEXANDER
The Royal Logistic Corps

Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael John BROWN
Corps of Royal Engineers

Warrant Officer Class 1 Mark Ian CHESTNUTT
The Royal Irish Regiment

Colour Sergeant Lawrence Joseph DALLAS
The Parachute Regiment

Warrant Officer Class 2 Malcolm William MACARTHUR
The Royal Logistic Corps

Corporal Andrew George Nelson MARSHALL
The Royal Irish Regiment

Staff Sergeant Garry George PENN
The Royal Logistic Corps

Captain Neil Howard REEDE
The Royal Logistic Corps

Lieutenant Colonel Harry Edward SHIELDS MBE
The Light Infantry

Major Giles Matthew TIMMS
The Parachute Regiment

Sergeant Andrew Christopher BURNLEY
Royal Air Force

FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

QCVS

Lieutenant Commander Douglas James Keith ALLEN
Royal Navy

Warrant Officer Class 2 Andrew BUTCHER
Grenadier Guards

Lieutenant Colonel Gary Colin DEAKIN
The King's Regiment

Warrant Officer Class 1 Robert Gavin Alistair JOHNSTON The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Sergeant Bruce James MURRAY
Royal Regiment of Artillery

AFGHANISTAN

MC

Major Colin Nicholas RISSO
Royal Gibraltar Regiment

AFC

Flight Lieutenant David Kevin STEAD
Royal Air Force (deceased)

Flight Lieutenant Richard Ian WHIPP
Royal Air Force

QCVS

Corporal David James BULL
Intelligence Corps

Major Graham Norman COX
The Rifle Volunteers Territorial Army

Captain Alexander Robert McKAY
The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment

IRAQ

OBE

Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin John BATHURST
Welsh Guards

Colonel Neil Alexander HUTTON
The Parachute Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Philip Michael LEWIS
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Robert WILSON
The Queen's Dragoon Guards

Group Captain Paul Ashley ATHERTON
Royal Air Force

MBE

Captain Alan John ALFORD
The Queen's Dragoon Guards

Staff Sergeant Neil David ALLCOCK
Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Major Jonathan Alan DAVIS
Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support) Territorial Army

Major Giles Richard HARRIS
Welsh Guards

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen John SHIRLEY
The Royal Logistic Corps

Captain Christopher William SWALLOW
The Royal Anglian Regiment

DFC

Captain Scott Warwick WATKINS
Australian Army Aviation

QGM

Staff Sergeant Simon James DE GRUCHY
The Royal Logistic Corps

Private Michael David McLAUGHLIN
The Black Watch

MiD

Lance Corporal Adam CAVENEY
Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Corporal Darren CLEMIE
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment

Sergeant Anthony Ian D'AURIA
The Queen's Dragoon Guards

Lance Sergeant Paul David FURLONG
Welsh Guards

Major Stuart Henry GLENN
The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment

Corporal Stuart John HENDERSON
Royal Army Medical Corps

Lieutenant John Douglas LIVESEY
Welsh Guards

QCB

Corporal Shane Peter AVEN
Royal Air Force

Junior Technician Darren Keith MALLALIEU
Royal Air Force

Senior Aircraftman Craig McNicol McCORMACK
Royal Air Force

Junior Technician Kieron TAYLOR
Royal Air Force

QCVS

Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas John CAVANAGH
Corps of Royal Engineers

Major Robert John COLLICUTT
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

Colonel Martin Philip DEAHL TD
Late Royal Army Medical Corps Territorial Army

Major Jasper John DE QUINCEY-ADAMS
The Queen's Dragoon Guards

Corporal Anthony Jason DEVANNY
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment

Captain John GRACIE
The Royal Irish Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Derek John HUDSON MBE
Royal Regiment of Artillery

Lieutenant Colonel George Henry Fagan Stewart NICKERSON
Scots Guards

Staff Sergeant John RAINE
Corps of Royal Engineers

Captain Rhodri Huw RICHARDS
Welsh Guards

Captain Andrew George WYATT
The Royal Logistic Corps

Sergeant Duncan Christian WYETH
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment

Wing Commander Mohammed Afzal ASHRAF
Royal Air Force

Mr Paul Andrew BANNISTER
Ministry of Defence

SIERRA LEONE

QCVS

Major Andrew James DUNCAN
The Royal Logistic Corps

CONGO

QCVS

Colonel Patrick John TABOR MVO
Late The Blues and Royals

MISCELLANEOUS

MBE

Lieutenant Stirling John PATCH
Royal Navy

Commander Andrew James WEBB
Royal Navy

QGM

Sergeant Thomas PALMER
Royal Marines

QCB

Leading Seaman (Diver) Garth William SPENCE
Royal Navy

QCVS

Chief Petty Officer (Marine Engineering Artificer) Richard Peter BENNETT

Warrant Officer 1st Class Kevin Charles CARTER GM
Royal Marines

Colour Sergeant Stephen John LEE
Royal Marines

Sergeant Paul McGOUGH
Royal Marines

Warrant Officer 2nd Class (Weapon Engineering Artificer) Stephen John PRICE
Royal Navy

NON-COMBATANT GALLANTRY

AFC

Sergeant Neil Stuart FINCH QGM
Royal Air Force

Master Aircrew Nicholas Charles PETCH
Royal Air Force

Flight Lieutenant John Bessford SHELDON
Royal Air Force

QGM

Staff Sergeant Justin Jon BELL
The Royal Logistic Corps

QCB

Sergeant Phillip Michael CARESS
Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Lance Corporal Robert GILBERT
Corps of Royal Engineers

Sergeant Stewart William MACLEOD
Corps of Royal Engineers

Sergeant Gregory Wallace MATHER
Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

AMERICAN AWARDS TO BRITISH FORCES PERSONNEL

Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer)

Major General Andrew Peter FARQUHAR CBE
Late The Green Howards

Lieutenant General Sir John Panton KISZELY KCB MC
Late Scots Guards

Major General Jonathon Peter RILEY DSO
Late The Royal Welch Fusiliers

Bronze Star Medal

Major Adam Timothy Stephen CRAWFORD
Royal Marines

Lieutenant Colonel Jani MAROK
Royal Marines

Major Simon James BANTON
The Staffordshire Regiment

Corporal Thomas Edward BOND
Royal Tank Regiment

Major General John COOPER DSO MBE
Late The King's Own Scottish Borderers

Lieutenant Colonel Neil Davidson FRASER
Royal Corps of Signals

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Andre HOLDEN
The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters

Colonel Paul Richard Lorimer LANE
Late Royal Regiment of Artillery

Warrant Officer Class 2 Lee James MASON
Royal Corps of Signals

Major John Stuart McDONALD
The Parachute Regiment

Major John Christopher PEREZ MBE
Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Major Michael William SHERVINGTON
The Parachute Regiment

Colonel Mark Evan WARING OBE
Late Royal Regiment of Artillery

Captain Colin WHITWORTH
The Royal Logistic Corps

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Simon Paton WORSLEY
Royal Regiment of Artillery

Major John Charles Julian WRIGHT
The Royal Anglian Regiment