This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7927465.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Royal Irish honoured for service | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Three soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment have been awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. | Three soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment have been awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. |
| It is the first time the honour has been awarded to three members of the same regiment. | It is the first time the honour has been awarded to three members of the same regiment. |
| Corporal Robert McClurg, Portavogie, Acting Sergeant Alwyn Stevens and Lance Corporal Jon Toge were among 18 Royal Irish soldiers honoured. | Corporal Robert McClurg, Portavogie, Acting Sergeant Alwyn Stevens and Lance Corporal Jon Toge were among 18 Royal Irish soldiers honoured. |
| The men were given the awards, in part, for their work mentoring the Afghan National Army in Helmand. | The men were given the awards, in part, for their work mentoring the Afghan National Army in Helmand. |
| "To put the significance of this in some sort of context, it should be remembered that the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is second only to the Victoria Cross as a gallantry award," said military historian Richard Doherty. The actions of Lance Corporal Jon Toge, for example, put characters like Rambo and the Terminator in the shade Richard Doherty | |
| "The actions of Lance Corporal Jon Toge, for example, put characters like Rambo and the Terminator in the shade. | |
| "He lifted four other men out of an ambush and carried them to safety, when by any other standards, he should been dead." | |
| Corporal McClurg's medal honoured him for his leadership and "great personal courage, repeatedly salvaging deteriorating situations" which could have led to the loss of life. | Corporal McClurg's medal honoured him for his leadership and "great personal courage, repeatedly salvaging deteriorating situations" which could have led to the loss of life. |
| Acting Sergeant Stevens was said to have displayed "extraordinary courage, personally engaging and neutralizing several enemy". | Acting Sergeant Stevens was said to have displayed "extraordinary courage, personally engaging and neutralizing several enemy". |
| Military Crosses were awarded to two Royal Irish soldiers. | Military Crosses were awarded to two Royal Irish soldiers. |
| 'Empathy' | |
| Ranger Alan Owens, from Portadown, was also honoured for his work mentoring the Afghan National Army and for developing "a level of empathy with the local population which no amount of fighting could establish". | Ranger Alan Owens, from Portadown, was also honoured for his work mentoring the Afghan National Army and for developing "a level of empathy with the local population which no amount of fighting could establish". |
| Captain Graham Rainey, from Bangor, "ensured that only enemy were neutralised and achieved extraordinary respect amongst the Afghan National Army and his own team". | Captain Graham Rainey, from Bangor, "ensured that only enemy were neutralised and achieved extraordinary respect amongst the Afghan National Army and his own team". |
| Lt Col Ed Freeley, Commanding Officer of the First Battalion of the Royal Irish, said it was a great honour for the regiment. | Lt Col Ed Freeley, Commanding Officer of the First Battalion of the Royal Irish, said it was a great honour for the regiment. |
| "It's an extraordinary achievement which recognises the valour, the courage and the application of intelligent force alongside their Afghan counterparts." | "It's an extraordinary achievement which recognises the valour, the courage and the application of intelligent force alongside their Afghan counterparts." |
| More than 100 service personnel were honoured on Friday. | More than 100 service personnel were honoured on Friday. |