bobdina
08-06-2009, 01:52 PM
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) is a second level military decoration of the United Kingdom armed forces.
The CGC was instituted in the aftermath of the 1993 review of the honours system. As part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the CGC replaced both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Army) and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Air and Naval) as second level awards to Other Ranks and ratings. The CGC also replaced the Distinguished Service Order, in its role as an award to officers for gallantry (although the DSO was retained as an award for outstanding leadership). The CGC now serves as the second level award for gallantry for all ranks across the whole armed forces.
Corporal Shaun Jardine of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, have been awarded one of Britain’s highest gallantry awards.
Cpl Jardine, 22, from Dumfries, a soldier since he was 17, won the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
Last night, Cpl Jardine’s mother, June, 43, said she was delighted. “I was just happy to see him come out alive, never mind a hero,” she said.
“He is being modest, but he’s excited.”
On 9 August, Cpl Jardine was commanding a rapid-reaction force from Al Uzayr in southern Iraq.
His team engaged two enemy positions, one occupied by three men with automatic weapons and the other by a machine-gunner.
The corporal told his men to cover him and, despite facing intense fire, he single-handedly charged the positions, killing the Iraqis.
His “quick thinking and total disregard for his own safety undoubtedly served to prevent casualties among his own team and other units”, according to his citation.
Yesterday, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Jefferies, the soldiers’ commanding officer, said: “This is a proud day for all of us and tremendous news for this courageous young Borderer who has conducted himself in keeping with the highest standards of our regimental tradition.”
Cpl Jardine phoned his mother in Dumfries from Northern Ireland, where the regiment is on a tour of duty.
Mrs Jardine added: “Every second of every day he was in Iraq we worried. I was so glad to have him home and so excited for him.
“His grandfather was a soldier, but sadly didn’t live to see Shaun a hero.”
The CGC was instituted in the aftermath of the 1993 review of the honours system. As part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the CGC replaced both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Army) and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Air and Naval) as second level awards to Other Ranks and ratings. The CGC also replaced the Distinguished Service Order, in its role as an award to officers for gallantry (although the DSO was retained as an award for outstanding leadership). The CGC now serves as the second level award for gallantry for all ranks across the whole armed forces.
Corporal Shaun Jardine of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, have been awarded one of Britain’s highest gallantry awards.
Cpl Jardine, 22, from Dumfries, a soldier since he was 17, won the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
Last night, Cpl Jardine’s mother, June, 43, said she was delighted. “I was just happy to see him come out alive, never mind a hero,” she said.
“He is being modest, but he’s excited.”
On 9 August, Cpl Jardine was commanding a rapid-reaction force from Al Uzayr in southern Iraq.
His team engaged two enemy positions, one occupied by three men with automatic weapons and the other by a machine-gunner.
The corporal told his men to cover him and, despite facing intense fire, he single-handedly charged the positions, killing the Iraqis.
His “quick thinking and total disregard for his own safety undoubtedly served to prevent casualties among his own team and other units”, according to his citation.
Yesterday, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Jefferies, the soldiers’ commanding officer, said: “This is a proud day for all of us and tremendous news for this courageous young Borderer who has conducted himself in keeping with the highest standards of our regimental tradition.”
Cpl Jardine phoned his mother in Dumfries from Northern Ireland, where the regiment is on a tour of duty.
Mrs Jardine added: “Every second of every day he was in Iraq we worried. I was so glad to have him home and so excited for him.
“His grandfather was a soldier, but sadly didn’t live to see Shaun a hero.”