A soldier who single-handedly saved Afghan and Danish soldiers from a complex Improvised Explosive Device (IED) trap is among those recognised for bravery on operations last week, Vigilance can reveal.
Warrant Officer (WO) Andreas Peat, a High Threat Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operator, took control of the situation after a Danish soldier triggered a device on a compound roof while on an operation in Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan. WO Peat, 39, from Edinburgh, cleared a route through to the casualty while urging the other Afghan and Danish soldiers to remain still to guard against any further devices. When WO Peat reached the casualty he realised that there was a further wire underneath it. Tracing it to another IED nearby he disarmed the device manually before clearing a safe extraction route, shielding the stretcher bearers from the main charge with his own body as they carried the soldier off the roof. For his calm actions in the face of this threat it was announced at the Tower of London today that WO Peat will be awarded the George Medal.
WO Peat’s story is just one example of the many tales of courage which were shared today as scores of other personnel from all three services were honoured at the event. It is one of 117 awards for gallantry and meritorious service included in the Operational Awards List 41 which covers the period between September 2012 and April 2013. Many of those recognised served with 4 Brigade which deployed to Afghanistan in the Autumn of 2012.
Flight Lieutenant Christopher Gent, 31 from Swanage, Dorset, was an aircraft commander in the UK Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) in Camp Bastion. On 20 December 2012, despite heavy fog grounding all Task Force Helmand activity due to low visibility, Flt Lt Gent’s crew was dispatched to rescue an Afghan soldier who had been shot in the head to the east of Camp Bastion. Taking off just 14 minutes after the emergency call and flying in visibility as low as 30 metres, Flt Lt Gent skilfully positioned his Chinook to land near the casualty. The citation for Gent’s Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air describes how ‘through his extremely cool leadership and expert flying in abysmal weather, they returned safely to CampBastion.’
Another stirring tale of bravery is that of Marine Craig Buchanan, 26 from Somerset West, South Africa, who has been awarded the Military Cross. Marine Buchanan, who now lives in Exeter, was part of an eight man team tasked to patrol to an Afghan police station to conduct low-level training in October 2012. En route the patrol was engaged by a member of the Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) wearing civilian clothing, who fired prolonged and accurate bursts of automatic fire, fatally wounding two members of the patrol and seriously wounding a Marine next to Buchanan. Unable to return fire for fear of hitting his colleagues, Buchanan moved his body between the gunman and the rest of the patrol. When he was able to engage Buchanan neutralized the gunman before administering first-aid until the MERT arrived.
Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond said: “While the role of our forces in Afghanistan is changing with the Afghan forces assuming the lead for security operations across the country, the courage and bravery of British Forces deployed remains constant and undiminished. Those honoured today have displayed exceptional dedication and commitment to their country, their comrades and the mission. As we enter the final phases of combat operations in Afghanistan, British Forces deserve our recognition and gratitude for their role in helping to keep us safe in the UK.”
During Herrick 17 4 Brigade continued to support the development of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) into a force capable of taking control of their own security. An increasing number of operations were planned and implemented independently by the Afghans with ISAF providing a ‘protective wrap.’
Background information on Operational Honours
Following acts of gallantry or meritorious service, recommendations for honours and awards are made by commanding officers. These are then passed up the chain of command for consideration.
In the case of operational honours the theatre commander is able to judge each citation against others in his command and to comment on them. From there the citations that are endorsed are passed to the overall operational commander, for example the Chief of Joint Operations in Northwood for further comparison before being passed to the MOD Armed Forces Operational Awards Committee.
This committee, which is chaired by the Defence Services Secretary, is made up of the Naval, Army and Air Secretaries and the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations – all 2 star officers who have considerable operational experience themselves. The committee recommends which awards should be made and in what quantity.
These recommendations are then considered and endorsed by the MOS Services Honours Committee, which is chaired by the 2nd PUS, before being submitted to The Queen through the Defence Secretary for her approval.
There is an additional step for recommendations of the two highest awards – the Victoria Cross and the George Cross. VC recommendations are endorsed by the VC Committee comprising the PUS and the Service Chiefs of Staff. Those for the George Cross are endorsed by members of the George Cross Military Committee, which is a sub committee for the Honours and Decorations Committee.
A similar system is used through national command chains for the State awards at the Queen’s Birthday and New Year Honours Lists. At any time during this staffing chain recommendations may be upgraded or downgraded to ensure that awards are made at the correct level. The system ensures that consistent standards are applied and that there is no diminution of the value of awards.
The system for the award of Decorations and other Honours to Service personnel underwent a major revision in 1993, when the practice of having in some categories of award, different medals for Officers and other ranks were discontinued. Thus for example the Military Medal is no longer awarded to Non Commissioned Ranks, who instead are now eligible for the Military Cross which had previously been reserved for Officers and Warrant Officers.
All awards, except for membership of Orders, can be given posthumously.
Where a medal is worn by an individual more than once, the second and subsequent awards are denoted by a Bar worn on the medal ribbon. Thus the phrase DFC and Bar (sometimes shortened to DFC*) denotes the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross twice to the same individual.
Hierarchy of gallantry, leadership and bravery awards for active operations (in presence of the enemy):
Level 1 |
Victoria Cross (VC) |
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Level 2 |
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) |
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) |
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Level 3 |
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) |
Military Cross (MC) |
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) |
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Level 4 |
Mention in Despatches |
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Hierarchy of gallantry and bravery awards for non-active operations (not in presence of the enemy):
Level 1 |
George Cross (GC) |
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Level 2 |
George Medal (GM) |
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Level 3 |
Queens's Gallantry Medal (QGM) |
Air Force Cross (AFC) |
Level 4 |
Queen's Commendation for Bravery |
Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air |
(both for bravery, no post-nominal) |
Achievements of Operation Herrick 17 Autumn 2012 to Spring 2013
- ANSF are now training themselves; conceiving, planning and conducting operations with partners
- Herrick 17 continued the drawdown of bases. When 4 Brigade deployed they moved into 37 bases. When 1 Brigade deployed they moved into just 12.
- Herrick 17 closed or transferred to the ANSF 25 major bases
- All base closures were completed according to plan
- ANSF are now capable and confident and leading on security in Central Helmand.