24 Sep 2010

Armed forces honoured for Afghan bravery

131 members of the armed forces are being honoured for incredible bravery and selfless courage in Afghanistan. The awards recognise operations from October 2009 to 31 March 2010.

A total of 131 servicemen and women, from commanding officers to bomb disposal experts to soldiers are receiving the honours, nine posthumously.

Many of those being recognised served with 11 Light Brigade, which lost more soldiers than any other regiment during the conflict in Afghanistan.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, of The 3rd Battalion The Rifles, will receive the Distinguished Service Order for “indomitable” leadership in “the most hostile of circumstances”.

The battlegroup lost 30 soldiers during a six-month tour of duty between October 2009 and April 2010.

Lieutenant Colonel Kitson twice survived explosions in Sangin, Helmand Province. He established a series of patrol bases which improved the safety of people living there, and he removed the town’s Governor and his coterie of officials.

Brigadier James Cowan, Commander of 11 Light Brigade, is awarded the Distinguished Service Order for “exemplary” leadership.

He said: “Today is recognition of the contribution not just of those who are here today, but of the unspoken, unsung silent majority who served so outstandingly on operations during the winter of 2009 to 2010.”

The honours list 
Click here for the full list of awards

Seventeen soldiers from the battlegroup, which includes B Company of The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots), are being honoured in the Operational Honours List for their performance in the region, which is described as “little short of the heart of darkness”.

An army expert who cleared more roadside bombs than anyone else in history receives the George Medal.

Sergeant Major Karl Ley made safe 139 improvised explosive devices planted by the Taliban. His medal citation praises his “sheer determination, guile and awesome bravery”. On one operation he defused 42 IEDs within just 72 hours, and at times had to clear bombs with insurgent mortars and gunshots landing just a hundred feet away from him.

Lance Corporal James McKie receives the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for picking up a live hand grenade and throwing it back at the Taliban.

He saved the lives of two of his comrades with his split-second reactions while under attack on the roof of an outhouse in Sangin. The grenade exploded moments after leaving his hand, leaving him with shrapnel wounds to his face and arm.

But Lance Corporal McKie played down his honour, saying others did some great things in Helmand which were not being recognised, “but I’ve come to realise that the medal is a celebration of what we did out there – it’s for everyone, it’s not just for me.”

Lance Corporal Jamie Hastie is awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery for saving the life of his section commander when he stepped on an IED.

He was wounded in the blast, but ignored his injuries and the risk of other hidden bombs to give vital first aid and then help carry his wounded commander’s stretcher.

RAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing wounded troops in his Chinook helicopter even after being shot in the head by the Taliban.

He had just taken off with the six wounded men on board when a bullet shattered the visor of his helmet, wounding him in the face. The insurgents hit the Chinook eight times, leaving it badly damaged. The pilot recalls: “I said ‘Chaps, I think I’ve been shot but I’m OK’.

Major Tim Harris, the Officer Commanding A Company, the Third Battalion The Rifles, receives an MBE for his “inspirational example, humbling courage, tenacity and extraordinary demonstration of leadership in the face of seemingly overwhelming adversity”. The company lost six of its members and saw 18 wounded in action.