A ROYAL Marine has been awarded a campaign medal for the part he played in the Iraq War.

Warrant Officer 2 Nev Nixon, from Peterlee, who is serving with HMS Raleigh, in Cornwall, was on board the Royal Navy's largest warship, HMS Ocean, when the vessel was deployed to the Gulf two years ago.

He worked as part of the ship's permanently embarked 9th Assault Squadron Marines as a quartermaster, responsible for the provision of stores.

During the initial assault of the Al Faw peninsula by the Royal Marines of 40 Commando, WO2 Nixon was in charge of a team rigging and loading pallets of ammunition, supplies and vehicles to helicopters for transfer to the Marines ashore.

In total, the team sent 355 loads ashore in 72 hours. In recognition of the task, WO2 Nixon received a commendation from the Chief of Joint Operations.

He was presented with the Iraq Operations Medal by Major General Jim Dutton, commandant general of the Royal Marines.

The former pupil of Shotton Hall Comprehensive School joined the Royal Marines in 1982.

Most recently, WO2 Nixon has been selected for promotion next month to commissioned officer.

Now living in Exmouth, Devon, with his wife, Amanda, and daughter, Briony, who is seven, WO2 Nixon's link with Peterlee remains through his mother, Dorothy, and brother, Stephen, who still live in the area.