T.A. awarded Military Cross

[Mark W. Tonner]

Came across this story today and thought I'd pass it along:

Courage under fire

By SUN ONLINE REPORTER

A BUILDER serving in the Territorial Army who rescued a wounded officer during a gun battle in Iraq has been awarded the Military Cross, defence chiefs said today. Kingsman Michael Davison, from Liverpool, is the first part-time reservist since the Second World War to be awarded the honour. He was on his first operational tour of duty in Basra when the King's and Cheshire Regiment (Territorial Army) came under fire on July 4 last year. Brave Davison saw his platoon commander wounded in the attack and raced forward, dodging a hail of bullets, to drag the officer to safety. The citation on the soldier stated: "Throughout this incident, Kingsman Davison showed courage and composure under fire." Another serviceman awarded for his courage was Corporal Shaun Jardine of The King’s Own Scottish Borderers, also for action in Iraq. Jardine's regiment came under fire in Al Uzayr, in the country's Maysan province in August last year. After the regiment came under fire, he ordered his men to stand back and provide covering fire while he attacked the enemy single-handed. Cpl Jardine killed two gunmen and captured their weapons before engaging two other assault positions, forcing the remaining attackers to withdraw. More than 120 members of the armed forces will receive honours for their work in areas including Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, the former Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the MoD said. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "These honours and awards are a vivid illustration of the superb people we have in Britain’s armed forces. "They are an extraordinary catalogue of bravery, determination and commitment from both seasoned soldiers and those being tested for the first time in their military careers."

Cheers