MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (174/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 25
July 2008
136 members of the
Armed Forces are to be honoured on Friday 25th July for their
gallantry and service in Afghanistan, Iraq and other operations
around the world.
The honours for the period 31 Oct 07 to 31 Mar 08 include a
George Cross awarded for the highest level of gallantry, 19
Military Crosses and 4 Distinguished Service Orders.
Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup
said: "I am immensely proud of the courage, dedication and
skill that the individuals being honoured today have shown in a
wide variety of demanding circumstances. Their bravery and
professionalism are in the highest tradition of the British
military, and bring enormous credit to themselves, their
individual Services and the nation as a whole."
Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne said:
"I am enormously grateful for the contribution made by all
members of our Armed Forces, and the civilians who support them,
in operational theatres around the world. They carry out their
demanding and often dangerous duties - bringing peace and
stability to some of the most dangerous places in the world - with
skill, courage and professionalism. Today it gives me particular
pleasure to offer my personal congratulations to the men and women
who have been recognised publicly for their exceptionally brave
and meritorious service on operations. I am very conscious that
behind each of these awards lie acts of extraordinary dedication
and courage and I am delighted that they have been recognised in
this way."
Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher, of the Royal Marine Reserves,
receives the George Cross for an act of extreme self sacrifice
whilst on an operation in Helmand in March this year. His selfless
decision to throw himself on a grenade saved the life of at least
two members of his patrol and allowed for enemy forces to be
interdicted later that night. Alongside the Victoria Cross, the
George Cross is the nation's highest bravery honour and is
awarded for 'acts of the greatest heroism or of the most
conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.'
Brigadier Andrew Mackay, Late The King's Own Scottish
Borderers, receives a CBE for his command of 52 Brigade in
southern Afghanistan as does his deputy commander Colonel Stuart
Skeates MBE, Late Royal Regiment of Artillery, for his
immeasurable contribution to the counter insurgency campaign in
Helmand. Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Birrell of the Royal Marines
receives a Distinguished Service Order for his leadership on the
same operational tour.
Brigadier James Bashall, Late the Parachute Regiment, who
commanded 1st Mechanised Brigade in Iraq last year, receives a CBE
for his inspirational leadership. His period of command was a
seminal phase for UK forces in Iraq as we moved from one of the
most violent phases of the campaign to a complex period of
reconciliation. A DSO is awarded to Colonel Patrick Sanders OBE,
Late The Rifles, who commanded 4th Battalion The Rifles in Iraq
throughout Op Telic 10; he exemplified tough and decisive yet
compassionate leadership which kept his battle group going through
very difficult times. Col Sanders commanded and planned operations
in the most dangerous and complex situations taking the fight to
insurgents on the streets of Basra. Displaying grip and tactical
vision; he led from the front, often under fire; his operational
leadership was exemplary.
There is a Royal Red Cross for Major Janet Pilgrim, of the Queen
Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps, in recognition of her
work in the hospital in Iraq during Telic 10. Maj Pilgrim led the
hospital's team preparing bodies for repatriation; she
personally provided continuity and support for her team and
despite having others to call on she chose to convey any bad news
herself. Also after a direct hit on the hospital from a 122 mm
rocket Maj Pilgrim took swift and effective action restoring gaps
in capability averting a potential disaster.
Sergeant Gary King, of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army
Nursing Corps, will receive the Associate Royal Red Cross for his
actions in calmly stabilising casualties whilst under fire and in
delivering specialist training to the Iraqi police. Warrant
Officer Stephen Strange RN as the senior diver for the search of
the capsized oil rig support vessel, BOURBON DOLPHIN, showed
exceptional leadership and bravery and is honoured with a Queens
Gallantry Medal.
Nineteen Military Crosses have been awarded to service personnel
for exceptional acts of bravery on operations in Afghanistan and
Iraq. Examples include Captain Paul Brittion, of the Royal
Regiment of Artillery, who refused morphine when injured so he
could remain in command of his fire support team during a fire
fight against the Taliban. Major Jason Little, of The Yorkshire
Regiment, who by the strength of his leadership and with huge
personal courage coordinated Afghan and international forces in
the newly retaken town of Delaram, and subsequently planned and
led, as a mentor, a successful Afghan National Army operation to
retake Golestan; and Lance Corporal Mohansingh Tangnami, of The
Royal Gurkha Rifles, who volunteered to lead a small team into an
area of heavy fire to recover a machine gun left by an earlier
casualty and so deny it to the enemy.
Notes to Editors
1. The attached list of honours is provided under embargo. No
details should appear in print or be broadcast before 0001 hrs 25
July 2008. The ranks and other personal details shown are those
current at the time the awards were recommended.
2. For further information please contact visit the Ministry of
Defence website at http://www.mod.uk
GC
Lance Corporal Mathew CROUCHER, Royal Marines Reserve
CBE
Brigadier Andrew Douglas MACKAY OBE, Late The King's Own
Scottish Borderers
Colonel Stuart Richard SKEATES MBE, Late Royal Regiment of Artillery
Brigadier James Ian BASHALL OBE, Late The Parachute Regiment
OBE
Major Christopher James BELL, Scots Guards
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Jonathan Paul BOURNE MBE, The Royal
Gurkha Rifles
Lieutenant Colonel Simon James DOWNEY MBE, The Yorkshire Regiment
Captain David DUTTON, Royal Navy
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew John Pooler BARR, Corps of Royal Engineers
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Peter KENYON MBE, The Duke of
Lancaster's Regiment
Lieutenant Colonel James Francis Pardoe SWIFT MBE, The Royal Welsh
MBE
Major Daniel James Edward CHEESMAN, Royal Marines
Major Mark Clement GIDLOW-JACKSON, The Rifles
Captain Richard Simon DOWNS, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Staff Sergeant Richard James FARNELL, Adjutant General's
Corps (Royal Military Police)
Captain Jonathan Anthony Evett PALMER, Irish Guards
Major Zachary Raymond STENNING, The Yorkshire Regiment
Major Peter John BARLOW, Adjutant General's Corps
(Educational and Training Services Branch), Territorial Army
RRC
Major Janet Mary PILGRIM ARRC, Queen Alexandra's Royal Army
Nursing Corps
ARRC
Sergeant Gary Anthony KING, Queen Alexandra's Royal Army
Nursing Corps
DSO
Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Martin BIRRELL, Royal Marines
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Nicholas Yardley Monrad SANDERS OBE,
The Rifles
MC
Marine Mkhuseli JONES, Royal Marines
Major Adrian MORLEY, Royal Marines
Marine Richard Reginald WITHERS, Royal Marines
Captain Paul Nathaniel Brenig BRITTON, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Acting Sergeant John Mathew COCKBURN, The Yorkshire Regiment
Rifleman Bhimbahadur GURUNG, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
Major Jason Alexis LITTLE, The Yorkshire Regiment
Major Paul Ralph Gareth PITCHFORK, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
Major Douglas Fraser REID, Royal Army Medical Corps
Major Ian David SCATTERGOOD, The Royal Logistic Corps
Corporal Richard Steven STREET, Corps of Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers.
Lance Corporal Mohansingh TANGNAMI, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
Lance Corporal Agnish THAPA, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
MiD
Lieutenant Commander Toby William EVERITT, Royal Navy
Lieutenant Nathan John GRAY, Royal Navy
Warrant Officer Class 2 David William LAYTON, Royal Marines
Major Duncan MANNING, Royal Marines
Marine Gary OGDEN, Royal Marines
Acting Major Matthew Bradley ADAMS, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
Rifleman Omprakash ALE, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
Sergeant Christopher Edward BARTLETT, The Yorkshire Regiment
Sergeant David William BAXTER, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Acting Captain James Laurence CADBURY, The King's Royal Hussars
Lance Corporal Onur Benjamin CAGLAR, The Yorkshire Regiment
Warrant Officer Class 2 James Mackintosh FRASER, Royal Regiment
of Artillery
Sergeant Nathan John HUNT, Corps of Royal Engineers.
Lieutenant John Alexander Edwin Elessing JEFFCOAT, The Royal
Gurkha Rifles
Sergeant Lee JOHNSON, The Yorkshire Regiment (killed in action)
Acting Corporal Damian Stephen LAWRENCE, The Yorkshire Regiment
(killed in action)
Sergeant James Charles LYNAS, The Yorkshire Regiment
Captain James Richard MANCHIP, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Major Mark Edward MILFORD, The Rifles
Major Anthony Brian PHILLIPS, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Private Malakai RAVOUVOU, The Yorkshire Regiment
Colonel Edward Alexander SMYTH-OSBOURNE, Late The Life Guards
Lance Corporal Tej Gang SUNWAR, Corps of Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers
Craftsman Samuel Michael TOMKINS, Corps of Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers
Private Andre Thomas TROUP, The Yorkshire Regiment
Trooper Jack Anthony WARBURTON, Royal Tank Regiment
Flight Lieutenant John Alan TIPPER, Royal Air Force
Lieutenant Simon John BEDFORD-SMITH, The Royal Welsh
Lieutenant Henry Guy BOMFORD, The Rifles
Serjeant Kevin Stuart Anthony GAHGAN, The Rifles
Private Joseph James ILLIDGE, The Royal Welsh
Rifleman Joseph Anthony IRVING, The Rifles
Major Christopher Stuart MACGREGOR, The King's Royal Hussars
Private Michael James Arthur NEW, The Mercian Regiment
Lance Sergeant Gavin Patrick O'NEILL, Irish Guards
Major Mark WILLIAMS, The Royal Welsh
QCB
Lance Corporal Simon Peter COOPER, Corps of Royal Engineers
Corporal Andrew Raymond GRIFFIN, Adjutant General's Corps
(Royal Military Police)
Corporal Damion James MORPHY, Corps of Royal Engineers
Guardsman Paul John MCGEE, Scots Guards
Guardsman Ratu Isireli VULAIDAUSIGA, Scots Guards
QCVS
Leading Seaman Survey Recorder Julia RYDER, Royal Navy
Major Guy BARTLE-JONES, Welsh Guards
Lieutenant Colonel Gregory COLE, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Captain John Andrew Charles DEE, Intelligence Corps
Lieutenant Alison Louise DRAY, The Royal Logistic Corps
Major James Patrick EYRE, Blues and Royals
Captain Devkumar GURUNG, The Queen's Gurkha Engineers
Major Sarah Helen HENDERSON-LEA MBE, Intelligence Corps
Major Paul Darren HOLDER, The Royal Logistic Corps
Lieutenant Colonel Neil Barry LEWIS, The Royal Logistic Corps
Major Gerald Mark STRICKLAND MBE, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
Lance Corporal James David TRIGG, Royal Corps of Signals
Lieutenant Colonel Richard WARDLAW, Corps of Royal Engineers
Wing Commander Robert Stephen NORRIS, Royal Air Force
Mohamed Faizul AZMAN, The Royal Welsh, Territorial Army
Major Tom Richardson COPINGER-SYMES, The Rifles
Major Timothy Emlyn GREY, Adjutant General's Corps
(Educational and Training Services Branch)
The Reverend Daniel Francis HERNANDEZ, Chaplain to the Forces 3rd
Class, Royal Army Chaplains' Department
Major Anthony Thomas LAMB, Royal Corps of Signals, Territorial Army
Major Jonathan William MCCLEERY, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Warrant Officer Class 1 Michael John PETERS, The Royal Logistic Corps
Sergeant Eric James MCCABE, Royal Air Force
Dr Paul COLLINSON, Grade C1, Ministry of Defence
QGM
Warrant Officer Class 1 Stephen Geoffrey STRANGE, Royal Navy.
QCB
Diver 1 John Kevin Arnie ANDERSON, Royal Navy . Leading Diver
Stephane FARRELL, Royal Navy.
QCBA
Sergeant Ryan Francis THOMAS, Royal Air Force.
Master Aircrewman Ian Paul HARRISON, Royal Air Force.
Flight Sergeant Alec Craig ASPDEN, Royal Air Force.