Post War British Gallantry Awards From 1945 To Present

Discussion in 'Postwar' started by Drew5233, Jul 10, 2009.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    See, today's generation are as good as anyother .
     
  2. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

  3. Capt Bill

    Capt Bill wanderin off at a tangent

    Sgt M Willetts GC PARA

    At 8.24 pm on the evening of 25 May 1971 a terrorist entered the Springfield Road Police Station in Belfast. He carried a suitcase from which a smoking fuse protruded, dumped it quickly on the floor and fled outside. Inside the room were two adults, two children and several police officers.

    The police officers raised the alarm and began to organize the evacuation of the hall past the reception desk, through the reception office and out of the door into the rear passage.

    Sergeant Michael Willetts, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was on duty in the inner hall. Hearing the alarm, he sent an NCO up to the first floor to warn those above and hastened to the door towards which a police officer was thrusting those in the reception hall and office. He held the door open while all passed safely through and then stood in the doorway, shielding those taking cover.

    In the next moment, the bomb exploded with terrible force. Sergeant Willets was mortally wounded.

    His duty did not require him to enter the threatened area, his post was elsewhere. He knew well, after four month's service in Belfast, the peril of going towards a terrorist bomb but he did not hesitate to do so. All those approaching the door from the far side agreed that if they had had to check to open the door they would have perished. Even when those in the room had reached the rear passage, Sergeant Willets waited, placing his body as a screen to shelter them.

    By this considered act of bravery, he risked and lost his life for those of the adults and children. His selflessness and courage are beyond praise.
    Sergeant Willetts is now buried at St Mary's Church, Blidworth in Nottinghamshire.



    Michael Willetts | ParaData
     
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  4. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

    Sgt M Willetts GC PARA

    At 8.24 pm on the evening of 25 May 1971 a terrorist entered the Springfield Road Police Station in Belfast. He carried a suitcase from which a smoking fuse protruded, dumped it quickly on the floor and fled outside. Inside the room were two adults, two children and several police officers.

    The police officers raised the alarm and began to organize the evacuation of the hall past the reception desk, through the reception office and out of the door into the rear passage.

    Sergeant Michael Willetts, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was on duty in the inner hall. Hearing the alarm, he sent an NCO up to the first floor to warn those above and hastened to the door towards which a police officer was thrusting those in the reception hall and office. He held the door open while all passed safely through and then stood in the doorway, shielding those taking cover.

    In the next moment, the bomb exploded with terrible force. Sergeant Willets was mortally wounded.

    His duty did not require him to enter the threatened area, his post was elsewhere. He knew well, after four month's service in Belfast, the peril of going towards a terrorist bomb but he did not hesitate to do so. All those approaching the door from the far side agreed that if they had had to check to open the door they would have perished. Even when those in the room had reached the rear passage, Sergeant Willets waited, placing his body as a screen to shelter them.

    By this considered act of bravery, he risked and lost his life for those of the adults and children. His selflessness and courage are beyond praise.
    Sergeant Willetts is now buried at St Mary's Church, Blidworth in Nottinghamshire.



    Michael Willetts | ParaData

    And a generation of British servicemen then learned the words to the British soldier...Great song. Went into legend. Guy did the tour of Naafi's in uk and BAOR and was feted wherever he went.
     
  5. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

  6. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

  7. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    BBC News - Army medic awarded Military Cross for bravery

    BBC News - North Tyneside Army medic awarded Military Cross

    L/Cpl Sarah Bushbye, 25, is only the third British Army woman to be awarded the honour. She received it during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

    An Army medic from North Tyneside has received the Military Cross for courage after she helped wounded colleagues in Afghanistan while under fire.

    L/Cpl Sarah Bushbye, 25, is only the third British Army woman to be awarded the honour. She received it earlier during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

    Following an attack by suicide bombers in December 2009, she gave medical care to injured British and Afghan comrades.

    Her professionalism and courage were described as "extraordinary".

    L/Cpl Bushbye's citation told how she ignored the risk of sharpshooters and Improvised Explosive Devices to cross 500m of open valley to reach injured colleagues.

    It said she kept her head, reporting to her commander and advising soldiers who were assisting her.

    Her composure and clear direction was said to have calmed the shaken men, as she moved between the casualties, and administered resuscitation to one soldier who had stopped breathing.

    Once a rescue Chinook landed it became the target of small arms fire, but she continued to cross between it and the checkpoint, working to keep the men alive and giving a handover to each of the medics on board.

    The citation concluded: "Her professionalism, selfless courage and conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy while under fire were extraordinary, given her rank and experience."

    She said: "It was like a horror movie it was very busy and it went on for about an hour.

    "It's all about your training. If you get good training you can get through just about any situation. I was nervous coming up to the scene but when I was at the scene I forgot about everything and just did my job.

    "When we were back at the camp that's when it sort of hit you, it was quite an emotional evening because we lost our two guys."
     
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  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    You beat me to it Di !

    Interesting point that all three female MC's have been to Medics.

    In true military tradition .....'Yes I would'

    [​IMG]

    Shame the citation is not listed in the London Gazette
     
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Didn't see these ones on here, adding now

    Sergeant Turrall, Capt Tresham Gregg, and Cpl Paul Mather

    BBC News - Three soldiers receive Military Cross for gallantry
    Three British soldiers who served in Afghanistan have been awarded Military Crosses at Buckingham Palace.

    Capt Tresham Gregg, from Norfolk, L/Sgt Matthew Turrall, from Windsor, and Cpl Paul Mather, from Merseyside, were decorated by the Princess Royal.

    They were joined by other recipients of awards at an investiture ceremony.

    Instituted in 1914, the Military Cross is given in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against an enemy on land.

    'Selflessness'
    Cpl Mather, of the Army Air Corps, was on patrol in Helmand province when troops came under attack from grenades.

    Several soldiers were injured, including Cpl Mather himself, who was the most seriously wounded.

    But despite being in considerable pain and bleeding heavily, he crawled into cover and immediately began to request air support. He refused to relinquish his radio until he was placed aboard a helicopter.

    The Ministry of Defence said: "He focused solely on delivering the accurate fire support needed to extract his comrades from danger, acts of the utmost professionalism and selflessness, in close contact with the enemy."

    Capt Gregg, of the Light Dragoons, was honoured for showing outstanding leadership during Operation Panther's Claw in July 2009 when he was a lieutenant.

    The MoD said his "courage, forthright leadership and determination to complete the mission in the face of heavy casualties were pivotal to the success of the operation".

    "His bravery, leadership and the outstanding personal example he set have all been exemplary."

    Finally, L/Sgt Turrall, of The Irish Guards, received the Military Cross for risking his own life to protect Afghan children.

    His section was guarding a new patrol base close to the town of Lashkar Gah when insurgents launched a major attack against it.

    A civilian car, carrying a father and his three children, was caught up in the fighting and, despite the risks, L/Sgt Turrall ran out, in full view of the enemy, to shepherd them to safety.

    "His act that day was a physical embodiment of our mission to improve the lives of the Afghan people," the MoD said.

    In an interview with the BBC, L/Sgt Turrall said he had a "fatherly urge" to help the children.

    BBC - Soldier tells of picking up Military Cross

    Interview with Lance Sergeant Matthew Turrall plus GVs of him with his Military Cross (From The Oxford Times)
     
  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    BBC News - Sheffield bomb expert Karl Ley receives George Medal

    A Sheffield soldier who cleared more roadside bombs than anyone else in history has received the George Medal at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
    Warrant Officer Karl Ley, 29, made safe 139 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the Taliban during a tour of Helmand Province in Afghanistan.

    [​IMG]
    Warrant Officer Karl Ley received the George Medal from Prince Charles
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I saw him being interviewed on ITV after getting his GM this afternoon. Quite a remarkable and rather humble chap playing down his job saying the guys on the ground do the hard bit finding them and he'd rather be defusing IED's than getting shot at.

    Well having been on the wrong end of a AK47 I'd disagree with him - Well done Sir !
     
  12. Capt Bill

    Capt Bill wanderin off at a tangent

  13. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    BBC News - Gurkha who defeated Taliban attack gets bravery medal

    [​IMG]
    Acting Sgt Pun's father and grandfather were both Gurkhas too

    A Gurkha who single-handedly fought off an attack by at least a dozen Taliban insurgents has been awarded Britain's second highest medal for bravery.
    Acting Sergeant Dipprasad Pun, 31, exhausted all of his ammunition and resorted to using the tripod of his machine gun to repel the militants.
    Describing himself as "a very lucky guy", he said he was very proud to be given the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
    A total of 136 UK servicemen and women are being honoured, four posthumously.
    On the roof
    Acting Sgt Pun was on sentry duty at a checkpoint near Babaji, in Afghanistan's Helmand province, on 17 September last year when he spotted insurgents trying to plant a bomb beside the front gate.
    Moments later, militants opened fire on the compound from all sides.
    For more than a quarter of an hour, alone on the roof, Acting Sgt Pun fought off an onslaught from rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s.
    In total, he fired more than 400 rounds, launched 17 grenades and detonated a mine.
    At one point, when an insurgent tried to climb up to his position, his rifle failed and he resorted to throwing his machine gun tripod to knock him down.
    Acting Sgt Pun, who is originally from the Nepali village of Bima but now lives in Ashford, Kent, believed at the time that there were more than 30 attackers.
    Local villagers later told him the figure was more likely to be 12 to 15.
    Recalling the incident, he said: "As soon as it was confirmed [they were] Taliban, I was really scared.
    "But as soon as I opened fire that was gone - [I thought] 'Before they kill me I have to kill some.'
    "I thought they were going to kill me after a couple of minutes, definitely."
    The citation on his medal - which is only one level below the Victoria Cross - states that he saved the lives of three comrades who were inside the checkpoint at the time.
    "I think I am a very lucky guy, a survivor," he added. "Now I am getting this award, it is very great and I am very happy."
    [​IMG]
    Army medic Cpl Isobel Henderson said she was proud of the way she coped in Afghanistan

    'Oh my God'
    Another of those being honoured is Army medic Cpl Isobel Henderson, who receives an MBE.
    The 24-year-old's citation said she had to cope with "an exceptionally heavy burden of casualties" at an isolated checkpoint in Lashkar Gah, which was "under near constant attack for six months".
    Twice during her tour last year, she responded to large bomb attacks on civilians in which the victims were as young as two years old.
    Cpl Henderson, from Dalbeattie, near Dumfries, said: "It's not until afterwards, when you sit down and think, 'Oh my God, what just happened? What did I just do?'
    "To be honest, I was quite proud of myself - I actually thought I dealt with it relatively well and I didn't panic."

    [​IMG]
    L/Cpl Matthew Morris uncovered a 500lb bomb in Helmand province
    L/Cpl Matthew Morris, of the Royal Engineers, has been awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery after uncovering one of the largest improvised explosive devices ever found in Helmand.
    The 23-year-old, from Longbridge, Birmingham, led the team that discovered the 500lb (226kg) device after aerial reconnaissance spotted 16 men digging something into the ground.
    His citation reads: "Very few searchers volunteer to return to Afghanistan, yet Morris did exactly that on this, his second tour.
    "Morris has never once relinquished his lead role, displaying a high level of courage and commitment."
    The honours will be presented at a later date.
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I'm just waiting to see Sergeant Dipprasad Pun's interview on the news-They are saying he fought off 30 Tailiban single handedly. Good lad :D
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Bloody hell-He fought them off with:

    250 GPMG rounds then,

    180 SA80 Rifle rounds then,

    he threw 17 grenades then,

    he threw a Claymore mine at them then,

    he threw a SF GPMG tripod at them then,

    he threw a sand bag at them - all in 15 minutes.

    Lucky for them he never got his Kukri out or they would really have been in trouble!
     
  16. 4/7 RDG

    4/7 RDG Member

  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    It reminds me of Speakman's VC in Korea when he was throwing empty beer bottles at the Chinese/Koreans.
     
  18. spider

    spider Very Senior Member

    A Nepali soldier has been awarded a bravery award for single-handedly taking on the Taliban

    • From: AFP
    • June 02, 2011 1:51PM
    The Queen gave a top bravery award to a Nepalese soldier in the British army for his heroics in Afghanistan.[​IMG]A checkpoint near Babaji in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan. Inset: Corporal Dipprasad Pun. Source: Supplied

    A NEPALESE soldier in the British army has been given a top bravery award by Queen Elizabeth II for his heroics in Afghanistan, where he single-handedly saw off more than 30 Taliban fighters.


    Corporal Dipprasad Pun, 31, said he thought he was going to die and so had nothing to lose in taking on the attackers who overran his checkpoint.
    He was yesterday awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), which is given in recognition of acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.
    Pun fired more than 400 rounds, launched 17 grenades and detonated a mine to repel the Taliban assault on his checkpoint near Babaji in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, last September.
    Surrounded, the enemy opened fired from all sides and for 15 minutes Pun remained under continuous attack, including from rocket-propelled grenades and AK47 guns.
    At one point, unable to shoot, he used his machine gun tripod to knock down a militant who was climbing the walls of the compound.
    Two insurgents were still attacking by the time he ran out of ammunition, but he set off a Claymore mine to repel them.
    Pun was given his medal in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London.
    The CGC is second only to the Victoria Cross -- the highest honour for bravery in the face of the enemy.
    "There wasn't any choice but to fight. The Taliban were all around the checkpoint. I was alone," he said.
    "I had so many of them around me that I thought I was definitely going to die so I thought I'd kill as many of them as I could before they killed me.
    "After that I thought nobody can kill us now -- when we met the enemy I wasn't scared."
    Britain's Major General Nicholas Carter, who was commander of allied forces in southern Afghanistan during Pun's deployment, praised his efforts.
    "The CGC does not get handed out lightly. It was a most remarkable achievement," he said.


    A Nepali soldier has been awarded a bravery award for single-handedly taking on the Taliban | The Australian
     
  19. eddie chandler

    eddie chandler Senior Member

    Here a question that someone maybe able to help me with

    Paul Cooney was awarded a QGM around 1973 if my memory serves me right (I could be wrong). Does anyone have any info on the event, I believe it was for events that were happening in NI.

    Eddie Chandler
     
  20. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Wonderful Royal Army Medical Corp girls, living up to the Corps slow march. - 'Her Bright Eyes Haunt Me Still'
     

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