Friday, 24 September 2010
Robin Ashby
A total of 131 members of the Armed Forces and one civilian have received honours and awards in the Operational Honours List dated today, 24th September 2010.
The full list, which recognises service on operations in Afghanistan and national operations for the period 1 October 2009 to 31 March 2010, is below.
George Medal (GM)
Acting Warrant Officer Class 2 Karl John Fairfax LEY, The Royal Logistic Corps
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Brigadier James Michael COWAN, OBE late The Royal Regiment of Scotland Colonel Harry Arthur Blair HOLT, OBE late Irish Guards Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Jan KITSON, The Rifles Lieutenant Colonel Charles Roland Vincent WALKER, Grenadier Guards
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC)
Sergeant Robert TURNER, Royal Marines Captain Robin Edwin Geoffrey BOURNE–TAYLOR, The Life Guards Corporal Lee BROWNSON, The Rifles, (Killed in action) Lance Corporal Graham Stuart HORN, The Parachute Regiment Lance Corporal James Lee McKIE, The Rifles
Military Cross (MC)
Major Nigel John Powell SOMERVILLE, MBE Royal Marines Sergeant Richard Edward WISEMAN, Royal Marines Acting Colour Sergeant Paul Edward BAINES, Coldstream Guards Acting Corporal Sarah Louise BUSHBYE, Royal Army Medical Corps Lieutenant Douglas Anthony Keith DALZELL, Coldstream Guards, (Killed in action) Lance Corporal Daniel John FLETCHER, Royal Army Medical Corps Corporal Ricky Paul FURGUSSON, The Rifles Sergeant Ashley Robert HILL, The Royal Anglian Regiment Rifleman Harry LANCELEY, The Rifles, (discharged) Lieutenant Colin William LUNN, The Yorkshire Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Angus Donald MACGILLIVRAY, The Royal Regiment of Scotland Lance Corporal Marc Anthony READER, Coldstream Guards Corporal George Finau SALE, The Royal Welsh Lieutenant Craig Angus SHEPHARD, Grenadier Guards Sergeant Adam Charles SWIFT, Coldstream Guards Lance Corporal Andrew WARDLE, The Yorkshire Regiment Corporal David Thomas WILLIAMS, The Royal Welsh Staff Sergeant Gareth David WOOD, The Royal Logistic Corps
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Flight Lieutenant Ian Anthony FORTUNE, Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant Andrew Michael NETHAWAY, Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant Timothy Richard POLLARD, Royal Air Force
Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM)
Petty Officer Aircrewman Dian Jonathan LACY, Royal Navy
Private Callum John BROTHERSTON, The Royal Regiment of Scotland Corporal John Alexander HARDMAN, The Yorkshire Regiment Lance Corporal Julie Elizabeth MAY, Royal Army Medical Corps Corporal Robert Alan NEALEY, The Royal Logistic Corps Rifleman Ross David ROBINSON, The Rifles, (since deceased) Sergeant John Arthur SWITHENBANK, The Yorkshire Regiment Rifleman Reece William Stevenson TERRY, The Rifles
Air Force Cross (AFC)
Flight Sergeant Anthony Richard DAVEY, Royal Air Force
Mention in Despatches (MiD)
Marine Tobias GUTTERIDGE, Royal Marines Guardsman Emmanuel ATTUQUAYEFIO, Grenadier Guards Lance Corporal Lee Colum BLAKE, The Parachute Regiment Lance Corporal Nikotimo BOLATAGANE, The Yorkshire Regiment Lance Corporal Daniel Colin James BRAMLEY, Grenadier Guards Lieutenant Simon Mark BROOMFIELD, The Royal Anglian Regiment Corporal Daryl Alan BRYANT, The Rifles Guardsman Lewis Nigel COULBERT, Grenadier Guards Colour Sergeant Christopher Stephen Mark DUNDON, The Royal Welsh Captain Hugo James Edward FARMER, CGC, The Parachute Regiment Sergeant Paul Maurice FOX, Corps of Royal Engineers, (Killed in action) Lance Bombardier Craig FROGGETT, Royal Regiment of Artillery Lance Sergeant David Marc Eric GREENHALGH, Grenadier Guards, (Killed in action) Corporal Paul Michael GEORGE, The Royal Welsh Lieutenant Stephen James HEALEY, The Royal Welsh Sergeant Paul Andrew HOWARD, Royal Tank Regiment Lieutenant Richard David HUTTON, Grenadier Guards Warrant Officer Class 2 Patrick HYDE, The Rifles Lance Corporal Alexander David John JONES, The Royal Welsh Corporal Steven Wayne MARTIN, The Rifles Staff Sergeant Brian McINTYRE, The Royal Logistic Corps Captain Andrew Donald MICHAEL, The Rifles Lance Sergeant Nathan Joseph OWEN, Coldstream Guards Lance Sergeant William Edward PATES, Coldstream Guards Acting Colour Sergeant Quintin Benjamin POLL, The Parachute Regiment Lance Corporal David John RADBAND, The Parachute Regiment Staff Sergeant Gareth Desmond REID, The Royal Logistic Corps Acting Corporal Liam Matthew RILEY, The Yorkshire Regiment (Killed in action) Major Stuart Roderick SMITH, The Royal Anglian Regiment Corporal Daniel SPRUCE, The Royal Logistic Corps Lance Corporal Alan Robert TAYLOR, The Royal Anglian Regiment Corporal Robert James TORDOFF, Corps of Royal Engineers Rifleman Mark TURNER, The Rifles (Killed in action) Acting Sergeant Ryan James VICKERY, The Royal Anglian Regiment Lance Sergeant Mathew James WALLIS, Coldstream Guards Corporal Ryan Joseph WALTON, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment Lieutenant Charles Edward Rufus WINSTANLEY, The Rifles
Senior Aircraftman Johnathon Tony FREEMAN, Royal Air Force
Queen's Commendation for Bravery (QCB)
Corporal George BURGESS, Royal Marines Corporal Calvin James COULTER, The Parachute Regiment Colour Sergeant Mark Stuart KNOWLES, Royal Marines Warrant Officer Class 2 Andrew David GOODWIN, The Royal Logistic Corps Lance Corporal Jamie HASTIE, The Yorkshire Regiment Rifleman Peter Leslie Matthew MATTHEWS, The Rifles Second Lieutenant Connor Neil Heriot MAXWELL, The Rifles Rifleman Daniel Vincent NICKSON, The Rifles Captain Daniel READ, The Royal Logistic Corps (Killed in action) Rifleman Gareth Edward SUTHERLAND, The Rifles Lance Corporal Jamie Martyn TAYLOR, The Royal Logistic Corps Rifleman Aselemo Kokoidabuli VETANIBUA, The Rifles Lance Sergeant David WALKER, Scots Guards (Killed in action) Staff Sergeant Paul Thomas John WRIGHT, Corps of Royal Engineers
Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air (QCBA)
Corporal Carl Michael BOOTH, Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant Alexander Nicholas Riddell TOWNSEND, Royal Air Force
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS)
Commodore Timothy Miles LOWE, Royal Navy Lieutenant Gary McCALL, Royal Navy
Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class, Reverend James William AITCHISON, Royal Army Chaplains' Department Major Ash Giles ALEXANDER–COOPER, The Royal Gurkha Rifles Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Timothy George BAZELEY, Corps of Royal Engineers Lieutenant Daniel James BENSTEAD, The Royal Anglian Regiment Acting Lieutenant Colonel James Maurice Hannan BOWDER, MBE Grenadier Guards Major Oliver Charles Christopher BROWN, The Royal Anglian Regiment Corporal Andrew Steven BURROWS, Royal Corps of Signals Sergeant Frederick John GOODING, Corps of Royal Engineers Acting Sergeant Pritabahadur GURUNG, The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment Sergeant Nicholas HARRINGTON, The Parachute Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Richard Alexander HEAD, MC The Rifles Sapper Johnathan Robert HORNER, Corps of Royal Engineers Corporal Marc David KEECH, Royal Corps of Signals Second Lieutenant Philip Robert Anthony LENTHALL, The Royal Anglian Regiment Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Hart LEWIN, Royal Army Medical Corps Warrant Officer Class 2 Peter Joseph LINDSAY, Army Air Corps Captain Jonathan Paul NOLAN, Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps, Territorial Army Captain David John POLLOCK, Royal Tank Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Michael ROE, The Yorkshire Regiment Warrant Officer Class 2 Justin Terence Gordon SEARLE, Royal Regiment of Artillery Major James Andrew SEDDON, Grenadier Guards Major Graeme Crichton WEARMOUTH, The Royal Regiment of Scotland Constable Amanda HENDERSON, Ministry of Defence Police
Air Commodore Stuart David ATHA, DSO Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Daniel Joseph ENDRUWEIT, Royal Air Force Acting Group Captain Alan Kenneth GILLESPIE, Royal Air Force
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Captain Nigel Anthony JONES, Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Robert Downing FULLERTON, The Life Guards Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas John LOCK, The Royal Welsh
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Sergeant Philip John CARR, Scots Guards Captain Nigel Anthony JONES, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Major Christopher David DAVIES, The Royal Anglian Regiment Major Timothy John HARRIS, The Rifles Major Patrick Simon REEHAL, The Royal Logistic Corps Major Richard Giles STREATFEILD, The Rifles Major Toby Patrick Oughtred TILL, Coldstream Guards
Monday, 04 October 2010
Robin Ashby

Rifleman Suraj Gurung was 22 years old and born and raised in the hill town of Gorkha in Nepal. He passed the notoriously gruelling process for Gurkha selection into the British Army in December 2007; becoming the first member of his family to achieve this feat.
In early January 2008 he made the journey from the tranquil foothills of the Nepalese Himalaya to Catterick in North Yorkshire as a trainee Rifleman ready to begin the arduous months of Gurkha infantry training.
In October 2008 he completed this training and travelled to Brunei to join 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles. As a result of his good command of English and his obvious intelligence he was immediately selected to be the Platoon Radio Operator. This position is normally reserved for a senior Rifleman and as such it was testament to the high regard in which he was held so early on in his career.
Rifleman Suraj returned to the United Kingdom in August 2009 and was selected as the lead man in his patrol, known as the vallon man, for the upcoming tour to Afghanistan. His ability had again been singled out.
He deployed on Op HERRICK 12 in April 2010 and even from the start of the tour he was always confident and calm under pressure. As a soldier he excelled here in Afghanistan. As the point man of every patrol he led his multiple unflinchingly across some of the most daunting and uncertain terrain, day after day, time after time.
For six months he had been finding IEDs and selecting safe routes, keeping those following behind safe.
Only recently married he leaves behind his wife and family in Nepal.
Read more...
Wednesday, 09 March 2011
Robin Ashby
Changes to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme that will mean significant increases to the awards paid to injured personnel have been published in a report by the Ministry of Defence today.
The changes, which will see an average 25 per cent increase to awards paid for injuries due to service, will be introduced following the recommendations from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) Review, carried out by former Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral the Lord Boyce last year.
The scheme pays a tax-free lump sum for injuries due to service, with the most seriously injured given a tax-free, index-linked Guaranteed Income Payment for life. This payment will be increased under the current changes to better reflect the lasting impact of injuries on future likely promotions and on the ability to work up to age 65.
Other changes include:
- an increase, which averages in excess of 25 per cent, to all lump sum award payments - except the top award which was recently doubled to £570,000
- nearly tripling the maximum award for mental illness from £48,875 to £140,000 in order to accurately reflect the impact of the most serious mental health conditions
- the creation of a new independent medical expert group to advise on compensation for specific, relevant illnesses and injuries such as hearing loss and mental health
- a revised approach to awarding compensation for multiple injuries, whereby all injuries sustained will receive some compensation.
The changes are detailed in 'The Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme - One Year On' report
All personnel who have already received an award under the scheme since its introduction in 2005 will have their case automatically revisited and will receive an uplift based on the new award levels.
The AFCS Review was assisted by an independent scrutiny group that included Service charities, medical experts, serving personnel and veterans and announced its recommendations for improvements in February 2010.
Since that date the MOD has been working to draft and introduce the legislation required to bring the changes into force.
Andrew Robathan, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, said:
"I am determined to ensure the care and support we give both our injured Service personnel and our veterans is the best possible. These changes show the Government's commitment to helping our wounded and will result in a significant uplift for many who have already claimed, as well as all future claimants.
"Crucially, nobody will lose out as a result of these changes - indeed, nearly all will receive an uplift to the amount they received."
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Robin Ashby
Tuesday, 18 January 2011 Treatment of around 20,000 people who suffer major trauma each year is set to improve as the Government announces significant new investment into trauma and microbiology research. The Department of Health, the Ministry of Defence, University Hospitals Birmingham and University of Birmingham are investing £20 million in a new initiative to share medical lessons learned. The initiative will bring both military and civilian trauma surgeons and scientists together to share innovation in medical research and advanced clinical practice in the battlefield to benefit all trauma patients in the NHS at an early stage of injury. The new National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) for surgical reconstruction and microbiology will be set up at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, where all injured service personnel are currently treated after evacuation from the frontline in Afghanistan. Research will focus initially on today's most urgent challenges in trauma including: • identifying effective resuscitation techniques; • surgical care after multiple injuries or amputation; and • fighting wound infections. For every trauma fatality in England, there are two people who are left with severe and often permanent injuries. Currently, variable research into trauma care means advances are not always shared across the NHS. The new NIHR centre will form a central point in England for trauma research where knowledge can be translated into real improvements in care for all NHS patients and beyond. It will be the first and only research centre of its kind in the UK to focus both on military and civilian care and treatment. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "The new NIHR Centre will fund world-leading research to help people recover better and faster from severe injuries. There have already been significant developments in advanced emergency treatment and transportation but more medical research is needed. "This investment will help to strengthen the response of health and emergency services to major disasters such as road traffic accidents and terrorist attacks in the future. It will also help to make the NHS leaders in the world of trauma care - helping to improve treatment and care in the NHS and around the world. This investment also reflects our commitment to health research in the strongest possible way." Defence Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans Andrew Robathan said: "The medics who work for our Armed Forces are recognised the world over for pioneering new advances in trauma care and quite rightly so. Those who have been injured defending their country deserve the very best standards of care. I am proud that the MoD is investing £10 million in the new NIHR Centre, which will allow us to develop new techniques to treat our soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and allow military surgeons to share our skills and knowledge with the NHS." Professor Dame Sally C. Davies, Director General of Research and Development at the Department of Health and (interim) Chief Medical Officer said: "I am delighted to be establishing the new NIHR Centre for Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology, in collaboration with our partners in the Ministry of Defence and in Birmingham, which will be unique in this country. "Translational research efforts are needed to target the early phase of injury in order to develop novel therapies and interventions for pre-hospital and early in-hospital trauma care. The cross-learning fostered between the military and civilian health care settings will improve treatment options and care for all patients". The Surgeon General, Surgeon Vice Admiral Philip Raffaelli said: "This is a hugely important initiative building on the strong partnership between the MoD and DH. The new centre will play a key role in building scientific evidence from injuries sustained in both military and civilian environments. All our patients will benefit now and in the future as new treatments are developed and shared across the NHS and the military." Julie Moore, Chief Executive, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust: "We are delighted to become the UK's only NIHR Centre for Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology. It is recognition of the work undertaken by the Trust and our partners over a number of years. It will provide us with the opportunity to build academic knowledge around pioneering clinical innovations, often performed for the first time to save lives and limbs. It will also allow us to use and develop basic science techniques to then critically examine and translate into clinical practice for the benefits of patients." Giving the centre the best possible clinical direction from the start will be its interim chair Professor Sir Keith Porter, who is the UK's only Professor of Clinical Traumatology and has developing world-class treatment for injured military servicemen and women for the past 10 years. Many more people survive injuries, when not so long ago they would have died due to the rapid loss of blood and severe trauma. Overcoming severe limb, head, face, burn injuries and infections can take years to treat requiring lifelong rehabilitation. The nature of military injuries are often very complex and can in some cases require years of after care and rehabilitation. The funding will offer researchers and medical students at the University unprecedented opportunities to work and learn with the very best in their field.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Rosie
As the world rushed to the aid of earthquake stricken Haiti and large numbers of American ships gatehred offshore, there was a notable absentee.
Where was the Royal Navy?
Read more...
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Adam
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