Honours for Welsh heroes of the war in Iraq

Mar 7 2008 by Tim Lewis, Western Mail

FOUR Welsh soldiers today receive some of the most prestigious military honours given to members of the armed forces for their heroic efforts during the war in Iraq.

Members of the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh are among 184 servicemen and women recognised for their courage and professionalism on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world.

Two of the Welsh soldiers receive a Military Cross – the third highest level of decoration. And two are recognised with Mentioned in Dispatches – an award given for “gallantry or otherwise commendable service” that has been mentioned in the official report of a senior commander to his superiors.

Major Stephen Webb, from Swansea and Corporal Richard Pask from Cwmbran, are awarded Military Crosses, two of only 28 given out to soldiers across the UK today.

Major Webb, a 37-year-old married father of two, is awarded the Cross for his “selfless courage, conspicuous gallantry and inspiring leadership” in commanding B Company during his first tour of Iraq in 2007.

During one incident his company was in charge of clearing a route from Basra Palace to Basra Air Station in the middle of the night when vehicles were hit by roadside bombs, and they came under considerable fire.

In charge of more than 100 men, Major Webb is honoured for the way he took command of the situation and for his leadership throughout his time in Iraq when the Company came under fire almost daily.

He said, “I am very flattered to be given such an honour, but I feel I was only doing my job and what anyone would have done in the same situation.

“I have to admire the bravery of everyone that was out there, some of the young lads showed tremendous courage.”

In helping protect a vulnerable convoy, Corporal Pask, 27, was temporarily knocked unconscious when his armoured vehicle was hit by an explosive. Despite this he continued to fight for more than six hours to ensure the safe passage of the convoy. The Army highlighted his “selfless actions” when awarding him the Military Cross.

Corporal Pask said, “At the time I was a bit dazed and my head was bleeding, the explosion had knocked out all our communications so we couldn’t call for help.

“The adrenaline gets you through it but when we got back to camp we were exhausted.

“Getting the Cross came as a complete shock, I never thought I would get such an honour when I first joined the Armed Forces.”

Lance Corporal Darren Gregory from Bridgend, who has returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq, was acting as a guard platoon when he came under heavy fire in the centre of Basra in 2007.

Despite being outnumbered in attack, Lance Corporal Gregory “single handedly inspired his soldiers” to beat off the attack by returning fire with a number of weapons.

On hearing of his MiD award, he said, “It’s a great personal achievement and my family will be over the moon with it. All of the training I had done before going out there got me through some very difficult situations.”

Also to receive the MiD honour was 19-year-old Private Benjamin Chamberlain from Caerphilly, for his “devotion to duty, initiative and outstanding professional skill” when he took over as a vehicle gunner during an attack by insurgents using roadside bombs.

He spent seven hours holding a position at a junction to help a convoy pass through Basra City, at a time when many soldiers were suffering from heat of more than 70C inside the vehicles.

Private Chamberlain said, “The award came out of the blue. I was in the middle of training exercises in Brecon when I got told about it. I am very proud to have been given such an award. At the time it was terrifying and extremely hard work.”