Navy, Army And RAF Personnel Recognised In Latest Operational Honours
Those awarded have shown outstanding examples of courage and dedication to their work on operation, the MOD says.
The military has recognised acts of bravery and leadership in the latest list of operational honours and awards.
Those awarded have shown outstanding examples of courage and dedication to their work on operation, the MOD says.
Included in the list is Combat Medical Technician Lance Corporal Hannah Richardson, who is set to receive a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS).
It comes after she supported a mass casualty station at a coalition hospital, following an insurgent attack in Afghanistan in February.
She orchestrated a team of soldiers, instructing them to complete tasks as she applied treatment to the most critically wounded personnel.
Her citation states “she acted far beyond her experience and rank in very demanding circumstances” and is “eminently deserving of national recognition”.
Lieutenant Commander Ben Martin, from Portsmouth, receives an MBE in recognition of his 15 years of service in the Royal Navy and exceptional tour of command of HMS Blyth in the Gulf over the last year.
He is described as a "dynamic, resourceful and an exemplar leader", who faced numerous challenges prior to, and during, his time on deployment as Commanding Officer on HMS Blyth.
Amid engineering setbacks which reduced training time for his crew, Lt Cdr Martin readied them for operations. His leadership ensured the ship was ready to respond to a rapidly changing and demanding situation, against a backdrop of tensions following the capture of the Stena Impero by Iran.
Captain Karl Williams, Royal Logistic Corps, is being awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery after he apprehended an individual with a firearm who was threatening the lives of others.
The incident happened during an off-duty shopping trip in April 2019, and Capt Williams' citation said the bravery and selflessness shown was “truly remarkable as he instinctively focused on the safety of everyone else around him”.
Recognised with a QCVS is Engineer Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Smith, of the Corps of Royal Engineers.
Lt Col Smith is being awarded for inspiring leadership while he commanded the operation concluding the UK’s commitment to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
WATCH: Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Smith speaks to Forces News about his experience on operation in South Sudan.
Despite being faced with numerous challenges, his team’s achievements included the completion of vital routes being rebuilt or upgraded.
Lt Col Smith told Forces News his view on the mission was to be "one team", meaning everybody had to buy in to how the tasks were carried out.
And he explained a good example of this team mentality was, when producing concrete plinths, the sand needed to be sifted by hand.
“Everybody was down on site lending a hand, sifting the sand, digging foundations,” he said.
“Everybody just got stuck in, they understood that we were the last rotation of Op Trenton to go out there and therefore it was fundamental that we got everything finished.”
He “embodied the unerring focus on his mission and through his conduct the UK's hard-won reputation as an 'exemplar troop contributing country' was sustained”, his citation read.
Lt Col Smith told Forces News the tour was probably his "career highlight", not only because he was the commander of the operation, but because of "the place itself".
He continued: “Seeing the children and the people of South Sudan who have such little personal effects, and the way they live is so basic, and yet they all seem to be quite happy.
"It just puts a different perspective on life."
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he is "proud of those who have been honoured".
The full list reads as follows:
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Colonel Marcus James Mudd
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Commander Suzy Helen Conway, Royal Navy
Commander Richard Paul Hewitt, Royal Navy
Colonel John Leslie Baynham
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Lieutenant Commander Ben Russell Martin, Royal Navy
Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) Philip O’Callaghan, Royal Marines
Lance Corporal Elham Sedeqi, The Parachute Regiment
Staff Sergeant Jason Peter Wilcox, Intelligence Corps
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS)
Commander Benjamin Charles Keith, Royal Navy
Lieutenant (now Lieutenant Commander) Alexander Antony Szweda, Royal Navy
Corporal Louise Lillian Cooper, Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)
Captain Alun Huw Morris, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Colonel Roderick Miles Lee
Lance Corporal Hannah Richardson, Royal Army Medical Corps
Sergeant (now Staff Sergeant) Ashley Jade Roylance, Intelligence Corps
Major Kerry Anne Schultz, The Royal Logistic Corps
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew James Edney Smith, Corps of Royal Engineers
Corporal Samuel David George Butler, Royal Air Force
Squadron Leader John Michael Plenty, Royal Air Force
The Queen’s Commendation for Bravery (QCB)
Staff Sergeant Steven Wayne Cockburn, The Royal Logistic Corps
Captain Karl Anthony Williams, The Royal Logistic Corps
Cover image: PA.