U.K. Operational Awards

[bobdina]

Forces' bravery "nothing short of utterly remarkable"
A History and Honour news article

19 Mar 10

Some of the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have been honoured for gallantry and meritorious service in the latest Operational Awards List attended a special ceremony in London today where their actions were marked out as 'utterly remarkable'.
Operational honours and awards recipients at Armoury House

Recipients at the official announcement of the Operational Honours and Awards List No 34 at Armoury House, London
[Picture: Sergeant Ian Houlding, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Operational Awards List No 34 covers the period from 1 April to 30 September 2009 and sees 146 members of the Armed Forces and one civilian receiving honours and awards.

Many of those recognised served with 19 Light Brigade, which deployed to Afghanistan in March last year and took part in Operation PANTHER'S CLAW.

Awards have also gone to others involved in operations in Iraq, elsewhere overseas and in the UK.

Yesterday it was announced that among those being honoured are Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes and the late Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid who are both to receive the George Cross for their outstanding bravery in countering improvised explosive devices. See Related News.

Today, the recipients of awards ranging from the Distinguished Service Order to the Queen's Gallantry Medal were also announced.



Framed citations of a few of the recipients were awarded by General Sir Peter Wall, Commander-in-Chief Land Forces, in front of colleagues and family members at the Honourable Artillery Company in London, with medals and honours to be officially presented by a member of the Royal Family later in the year.

Commenting on the honours, General Wall said:

"We should all be hugely proud. These men and women of all three Services are an example to their generation.

"They have all done some remarkable things in the most exacting circumstances and the nation should be hugely grateful to them.

"What they have done has set the conditions for those that have followed. 19 Brigade provided the springboard for operations such as MOSHTARAK and those around Sangin so this is a very important part that is being recognised today in what is an ongoing continuum.

"The awards mark the very special individual contributions, which are nothing short of utterly remarkable in most cases, but it is also emblematic of what a much broader team of people have done."

"The awards mark the very special individual contributions, which are nothing short of utterly remarkable in most cases, but it is also emblematic of what a much broader team of people have done."

General Sir Peter Wall

One of those honoured today was Lance Corporal David Timmins of the Royal Logistic Corps who receives the Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM).

In June 2009, LCpl Timmins was a High Threat Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Infantry Escort who, along with a Royal Engineers Search Team, was tasked to provide support to the 2nd Battalion The Rifles Battle Group during an operation to clear IEDs.

His citation reads:

"Fully aware of the risks, the teams started to clear the road, and detected a victim-operated lED (VOIED). The team pulled back to prepare for the disposal action. Whilst clearing a safe area, a second VOIED was initiated by a team member resulting in his traumatic injuries. Lance Corporal Timmins assessed the situation and worked fast but highly effectively, remaining cool and calm.

"Throughout his deployment, Lance Corporal Timmins's incredible commitment was pivotal to the sustainment of the enduring fighting spirit of the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group. His actions and selfless sacrifice are in the very finest traditions of the Service. For his service, Lance Corporal Timmins is awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal."

Attending the ceremony with his parents, LCpl Timmins said he was shocked and very humbled when he heard that he was to be singled out for an award:

"I wasn't expecting any of this so it came as a complete shock and surprise," he said.

His father Stephen Timmins added:

"It's tremendous and we are all so proud. We come from a small village and they are all so made up. It's fantastic. He's a hero in the village."

Lance Corporal David Timmins


LCpl Timmins himself was severely injured nine days after the incident and credits Captain Wayne Owers, a fellow QGM recipient announced today, for saving his life:

"I swallowed my tongue, had a collapsed lung and my coronary artery was hit," LCpl Timmins explained.

"I was losing a lot of blood but Captain Owers pulled my tongue out of my mouth, sat me up and wacked me on the back several times saying, 'don't die on me'.

"As a result of that I was sick, cleared my airways and was squared away - we laugh about it now and how his unorthodox medical techniques saved my life!"

Other awardees announced today include Flight Lieutenant Marc Heal, an RAF Chinook pilot who was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions whilst on operations in Afghanistan in July 2009.

As the captain of the Chinook helicopter Immediate Response Team (IRT) during Operation PANTHER'S CLAW, he commanded eight IRT missions and was regularly tasked into areas with a very significant enemy threat.

He consistently demonstrated exceptional levels of professional ability and successfully extracted 29 casualties from the battlefield and delivered them into medical care.

Meanwhile Rifleman Paul Jacobs of The Rifles received the George Medal for his actions in the Upper Sangin Valley.

Rifleman Jacobs was leading his patrol up one of the most heavily IED'd stretches of road in the whole of Afghanistan. An alleyway had been isolated to deny the enemy the opportunity to attack by command wire and a member of his company was clearing south down the alleyway when there was an enormous explosion resulting in the soldier being fatally wounded.

With just a single cover man he immediately set about clearing up to and around the body. As he did so, he confirmed that a secondary device was lying on the surface. As he moved back up the alleyway towards his cover man who had now come forward, another device suddenly exploded, killing his comrade.

Rifleman Jacobs was himself seriously wounded, but, suffering severe fragmentation damage to his eyes and bleeding heavily from multiple wounds, he had the presence of mind and experience to drag himself back onto the safe route he had just cleared and into a position where his extraction would be safer for others.

Among officers presented with Distinguished Service Orders are Brigadier Tim Radford, who commanded Task Force Helmand throughout Operation HERRICK 10, overseeing Operation PANTHER'S CLAW, and Lieutenant Colonel Robert Thomson, the Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, who led the fight in Sangin.

Commenting on all of the awards announced today, Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth, said:

"Every one of these awards has an incredible story behind it and some of the examples of courage and heroism are, frankly, difficult to imagine.

"Reading through these citations fills me with pride for the incredible Armed Forces that this country is so fortunate to boast.

"Those recognised today are the very best of a most remarkable military force."


http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/ForcesBraverynothingShortOfUtterlyRemarkable.htm

[bobdina]

Bomb disposal experts awarded George Cross
A History and Honour news article

18 Mar 10

Two British military bomb disposal experts, one of whom gave his life in the line of duty, have been awarded one of the UK's highest awards for gallantry, the George Cross.
Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid (left) and Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes

Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid (left) and Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes
[Pictures: David Gill and Copyright Press Association]

At a special ceremony in London today, Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, confirmed that Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes and his fallen colleague the late Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid are to have the gallantry award bestowed upon them.

SSgt Hughes and Mrs Christina Schmid, SSgt Schmid's widow, were present at the ceremony, where they were both personally congratulated by Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup and the Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth.

The George Crosses will be presented in a royal investiture at a later date.

These honours are part of Operational Awards List No 34, the remainder of which will be announced tomorrow, Friday 19 March 2010.

The George Cross ranks alongside the Victoria Cross as the nation's highest award for gallantry. It is awarded for 'acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger'.

Announcing the award of the two George Crosses, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup said:

"As one of our top two operational honours, the George Cross is awarded only rarely; its recipients must have displayed the very highest levels of gallantry.

"The actions of Staff Sergeant Hughes and the late Staff Sergeant Schmid meet this most demanding test in full measure.

"Their selfless commitment, unswerving devotion to duty and unsurpassed courage are both awe-inspiring and humbling. The nation will rightly take enormous pride in their service; it owes them and their families an enormous debt of gratitude."

To read Sir Jock's full speech at today's event see Related Links.

Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth, said:

"It should come as a source of enormous pride to every British citizen that the actions for which these honours are presented were committed by members of our country's military.

"As one of our top two operational honours, the George Cross is awarded only rarely; its recipients must have displayed the very highest levels of gallantry."

Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup

"The UK has the most gallant and professional Armed Forces in the world but, as George Cross recipients, Staff Sergeant Schmid and Staff Sergeant Hughes will always be part of an even more special group: those responsible for the most outstanding acts of bravery."

Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes and the late Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, both from the Royal Logistic Corps, were deployed to Helmand province as part of 19 Light Brigade, which was deployed to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 10 between March and November 2009.

The brigade's deployment saw noticeable UK progress in Helmand, largely as a result of Operation PANCHAI PALANG (PANTHER'S CLAW), a counter-insurgency operation which saw an area the size of the Isle of Wight seized from insurgent control, enabling security and governance to develop.

The insurgency however was far more intense and lethal than on any previous HERRICK operation and particularly in their use of IEDs.

As High Threat Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Operators, Staff Sergeant Hughes and Staff Sergeant Schmid were at the forefront of trying to neutralise this lethal threat.

SSgt Hughes's actions are described in his citation as 'the single most outstanding act of explosive ordnance disposal ever recorded in Afghanistan'.

A particular incident on 16 August 2009 is referred to when he was tasked to provide close support to the 2nd Battalion The Rifles Battle Group during an operation to clear a route south west of Sangin.

In preparation for the operation, some soldiers deployed early to secure an emergency helicopter landing site and isolate compounds to the south of the route as part of the inner cordon. During these moves a soldier was very seriously injured by an IED and as he was being recovered another IED exploded, killing two personnel outright and resulting in four more very serious casualties, one of whom later died from his wounds.

The area was effectively an IED minefield, overwatched by the enemy, and the section were stranded within it.

SSgt Hughes and his team were called in to extract the casualties and recover the bodies.

Without specialist protective clothing in order to save time, SSgt Hughes set about clearing a path to the injured, providing constant reassurance that help was on its way.
Christina Schmid

Christina Schmid, Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid's widow
[Picture: Sergeant Ian Houlding, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

On reaching the first badly injured soldier he discovered a further IED within one metre of the casualty that, given their proximity, constituted a grave and immediate threat to the lives of all the casualties.

SSgt Hughes calmly carried out a manual neutralisation of the device; any error would have proved instantly fatal. This was a 'Category A' action only conducted in one of two circumstances: a hostage scenario where explosives have been strapped to an innocent individual; and a mass casualty event where not taking action is certain to result in further casualties. Both place the emphasis on saving other people's lives even, if necessary, at the expense of the operator. His citation states: 'It was an extraordinary act'.

With shots keeping the enemy at bay, SSgt Hughes coolly turned his attention to reaching the remaining casualties and retrieving the dead. Clearing a path forward he discovered two further IEDs and, twice more, carried out manual neutralisation, enabling all the casualties to be extracted and the bodies recovered.

After this the Royal Engineers Search Team detected a further four IEDs in the immediate area and, stoically, like he had on over 80 other occasions in the previous five months, SSgt Hughes set about disposing of them too. His citation states:

"Dealing with any form of IED is dangerous; to deal with seven IEDs linked in a single circuit, in a mass casualty scenario, using manual neutralisation techniques once, never mind three times, is the single most outstanding act of explosive ordnance disposal ever recorded in Afghanistan.

"That he did it without the security of specialist protective clothing serves even more to demonstrate his outstanding gallantry. Hughes is unequivocally deserving of the highest level of public recognition."

SSgt Schmid's citation describes how he personally dealt with 70 confirmed improvised explosive devices.

He served in Helmand from June 2009 until his death in action on 31 October 2009.

His disposal of IEDs involved him typically having to deploy on foot, thereby precluding the option of specialist protective equipment and severely limiting the use of remote-controlled vehicles.

He spent long periods of time in close proximity to IEDs and in the gravest personal danger. Before his death in action he responded to 42 IED tasks, personally dealing with 70 confirmed IEDs.
Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes

Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes
[Picture: Sergeant Ian Houlding, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Amongst these incidents was an 11-hour clearance which took place when an infantry company based in Wishtan province was isolated by a substantial minefield, and the infamous 'Pharmacy Road', the only resupply route, was blocked by a medium-wheeled tractor and another vehicle, both blown up by very large IEDs.

Intelligence, unenviable first-hand experience and numerous unexplained explosions indicated that the area of the stricken vehicles was laced with IEDs.

At 0800hrs on 9 August 2009, as temperatures soared past 45 degrees Celsius, SSgt Schmid started work. Within only a hundred metres he found and cleared an IED and once, within 100 metres of the vehicles, he deployed a remote-controlled vehicle that struck an IED and was destroyed.

SSgt Schmid then moved forward and, well inside the most lethal arc of any device, manually placed explosive charges, clearing a route to within five metres of the vehicles.

His team then moved to clear a compound adjacent to the stricken vehicles to drag them off the road. When a second IED was found, SSgt Schmid made another manual approach and rapidly got rid of it.

A new approach to the vehicles from the compound was explosively created for the hulks to be dragged clear. SSgt Schmid painstakingly cleared up to both vehicles and his first trip took an hour.

He was relying on his eyesight and his understanding of enemy tactics alone. Despite the threat, SSgt Schmid again decided against explosive clearance; time was critical so he placed heavy and cumbersome chains onto the stricken vehicles, the riskiest of enterprises given the very high likelihood of booby traps, and the vehicles were finally dragged clear.

As the light started to fade, SSgt Schmid then personally led a high risk clearance of the road where the vehicles had been, manually disposing of two further IEDs.

The clearance had lasted 11 hours. It was physically, mentally and emotionally draining, but the road was open and the company resupplied. The resounding success of this battle group operation was entirely due to the heroic, selfless acts of SSgt Schmid.
Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid

Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid
[Picture: David Gill]

On another occasion, on 8 October 2009, SSgt Schmid was tasked in Sangin district centre to deal with an artillery shell. On arrival he immediately realised that the many unsuspecting civilians around him in the bustling bazaar were in peril.

Time was not on his side. He quickly assessed that the shell was in fact part of a live radio-controlled IED intended to cause maximum casualties in a well populated area. The nature of the device also meant it was almost certainly overwatched by the bomber controlling it.

Without any consideration for his own safety, SSgt Schmid immediately decided to neutralise the IED manually. To do this he knew he was employing a render safe procedure that should only ever be employed in the gravest of circumstances and which is conducted at the highest personal risk to the operator.

In an instant, SSgt Schmid made the most courageous decision possible, consciously placing his own life on the line in order to save the lives of countless Afghan civilians and demonstrating bravery of the highest order and well beyond the call of duty.

SSgt Schmid was killed during an operation near Forward Operating Base Jackson. Having dealt with three IEDs already that day, he and his team were transiting to another compound when a searcher discovered a command wire running down the alleyway they were in.

SSgt Schmid and his team were trapped in the alleyway with no safe route forward or back as they did not know in which direction the IED was situated. Knowing that his team was in potential danger, he immediately took action to reduce the hazard.

SSgt Schmid eventually traced the wire to a complex command wire IED in that it incorporated three linked, buried main charges. He was killed whilst dealing with the device.

His citation states:

"Schmid's actions on that fateful day, when trapped in an alleyway with no safe means of escape, probably saved the lives of his team.

"These occasions are representative of the complexity and danger that Schmid had faced daily throughout his four-month tour.

"His selfless gallantry, his devotion to duty, and his indefatigable courage, displayed time and time again, saved countless military and civilian lives and is worthy of the highest recognition."