Sapper Jonathan Horner recognised for his bravery

Sapper Jonathan Horner, 20, of 28 Engineer Regiment, The Royal Engineers, has been awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service for his dedication, bravery and life-saving actions during his first deployment to Afghanistan.

The soldier, from Stockton, was posted to one of the most hazardous areas of southern Afghanistan.

He carried out more than 60 high-threat clearances and located 25 improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Aged 19 when he deployed, the former student of Conyers School, in Yarm, near Stockton, was the youngest and least experienced sapper in the team.

He saw comrades killed in front of him, yet still managed to create safe paths to casualties and save lives by administering first aid.

His most notable act of bravery occurred during October last year, shortly after he arrived in Helmand, when his team was involved in an operation searching a main route in the Kajaki region, which was littered with numerous deadly devices.

While the search was being carried out, an Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicle drove over a pressure-plate IED, causing a huge explosion.

The driver was killed and several of the ANA soldiers in the back of the pick-up were severely injured.

Spr Horner picked up his metal detector and moved forward, clearing a safe path as he went.

Once at the scene, he began administering first aid, saving the life of at least one of the injured soldiers.

A few weeks later, his team commander was attempting to disable an IED when it detonated.

In the aftermath, Spr Horner searched out a safe path to the casualties.

He said: “Although this award is for me, it’s important to remember that I was part of a team and that every single member of the Engineers’ search teams were dedicated and worked incredibly hard.

“We mustn’t forget the vital work they all do – this award is as much for them as it is for me.”

A total of 131 servicemen and women were awarded honours yesterday, nine posthumously.

They include Sergeant Major Karl Ley, 29, who has cleared more roadside bombs than anyone else in history. The father-of-three, from Sheffield, is awarded the George Medal for making safe 139 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the Taliban during a six-month tour of Helmand.

This was more than twice as many as any other bomb disposal expert, and his medal citation praises his ‘‘sheer determination, guile and awesome bravery’’.

Also honoured is Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, of The 3rd Battalion The Rifles, who receives given the Distinguished Service Order for ‘‘indomitable’’ leadership in ‘‘the most hostile of circumstances’’.

The battle group lost 30 soldiers during a sixmonth tour of duty between October 2009 and April 2010.

Lt Col Kitson twice survived explosions during the campaign in Sangin, in Helmand.

He set ‘‘an example of dogged determination that inspired all those beneath him’’, his commendation said.

He established a series of patrol bases on the outside of the town which improved the safety of the people that lived there. He also removed the town’s Governor and his coterie of officials.

Major Tim Harris, the Officer Commanding A Company, 3 Battalion The Rifles, was awarded an MBE for his ‘‘inspirational example, humbling courage, tenacity and extraordinary demonstration of leadership in the face of seemingly overwhelming adversity’’.

The company lost six of its members and saw 18 wounded in action.

Sergeant saved commander

A SOLDIER has received a posthumous award for bravery after he risked his life to give first aid to a seriously wounded officer.

Lance Sergeant David “Davey” Walker, 36, has been awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery for a selfless and gallant act.

The soldier, who worked as an instructor at the Infantry Training Centre, in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, came under fire alongside his platoon while serving in Afghanistan in February.

The platoon took cover but the platoon commander was shot in both legs and was lying exposed.

His final instructions to the platoon were that they should remain in place, but Lance Sgt Walker broke cover to assist his commander.

Lance Sgt Walker, originally from Glasgow, was killed eight days later by a single shot to the head. The citation for bravery said the soldier’s courageous act “put him in an immensely dangerous position, exposed to the risk of being engaged by the machine gun fire himself”.

Another soldier to be recognised today is Lance Corporal Sarah Bushbye, who is to be awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy.

The 25-year-old, from Newcastle, now an acting corporal with 3 Medical Regiment, based at Gaza Barracks, Catterick Garrison, was on duty in December last year when her checkpoint in Sangin District Centre was attacked by two suicide bombers. Ignoring the risks of further bombs and incoming fire, she dashed across 500 yards of open ground to reach the scene.

There she found four Afghan and two British soldiers who had sustained appalling injuries, and the remains of the suicide bombers.

As rifle fire began to hit the ground around her, she treated the four surviving soldiers.