A list of British awards for gallantry in the War in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021. Apart from appointments to purely military orders, only gallantry awards have been included and only those that allow post-nominal letters (this excludes appointments to the Order of the British Empire for distinguished service and fourth-level awards such as Mentions-in-Despatches and Queen's Commendations).
The list includes the rank and decorations the recipient held at the time, together with their regiment, corps or service, and the date of publication of the award in the London Gazette. The first honours list was published in October 2002, covering the period from October 2001 to March 2002, and subsequent lists have each covered six-month periods of operations, ending in March or September. The latest list was published in July 2015 and covered the period ending 31 December 2014.
Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award for gallantry in the presence of the enemy, and is also the highest honour in the British Honours System. A miniature of the award is worn on the undress uniform to indicate the unique nature of the award.
Corporal Bryan James Budd, The Parachute Regiment, December 2006 (killed in action)
During July and August, A Company of 3 Para were deployed into Sangin, where their position was constantly under attack. On 27 July, during a patrol, a member of Corporal Budd's section was shot and seriously injured in open ground. Budd led an assault against a building, causing the enemy to retreat, allowing the evacuation and treatment of the wounded soldier. On 20 August, on another patrol, Budd's section again came under heavy fire, with two soldiers being wounded. He assaulted the enemy single-handedly, continuing even when himself wounded. This inspired the remainder of the platoon to renew their attack, and force the withdrawal of the enemy. Budd subsequently died of his wounds. His "single-handed action... and his determination, though wounded, to push on against a superior enemy force stands out as a premeditated act of inspirational leadership and the greatest valour".
Lance Corporal James Thomas Duane Ashworth, Grenadier Guards, June 2012 (killed in action)
On 13 June 2012, in the Nahr-e-Saraj District of Helmand Province, Lance Corporal Ashworth led his fire-team into the heart of an insurgent-dominated village. The initial attack resulted in the deaths of two insurgents and the recovery of two sniper rifles; however, the follow-up attack by Afghan local police stalled when a policeman was shot and killed. Ashworth moved to the front of his fire-team and pursued the attack, breaking into an enemy compound under machine-gun fire and driving the insurgents into an out-building. He then relentlessly crawled forward under fierce enemy fire to neutralise an enemy sniper with his final grenade. Placing himself in full view of the enemy to accurately throw his grenade, Ashworth was hit by enemy fire and killed before he could neutralise the sniper; however, his actions galvanised his platoon, which completed the clearance of the compound. His "total disregard for his own safety...was the gallant last action of a soldier who had willingly placed himself in the line of fire on numerous occasions earlier in the attack. This supremely courageous and inspiring action deserves the highest recognition."
Lance Corporal Joshua Mark Leakey, Parachute Regiment, August 2013
The actions for which Leakey was awarded the Victoria Cross occurred on 22 August 2013 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A routine joint patrol composed of British paratroopers, US Marines and Afghan soldiers had targeted a village to search for illegal weapons. Having been flown into the area in Chinook helicopters, the patrol was attacked by machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades soon after dismounting. Leakey's helicopter had landed on a hill near the village and he, with three other paratroopers and an Afghan soldier, were to provide fire support for the main segment of the patrol. From their vantage point, his section could see the attack and heard over their radio that someone had been injured. Leakey ran up the hill to assess the seriousness of the attack and came to the conclusion that urgent action was needed. Though he was only a lance corporal, he took control of the situation and led his section down to the group under attack.
Having reached the group under attack, he gave first aid to the wounded US Marine Corps captain and began to evacuate him from the battlefield. While under fire, he returned to the machine guns that his section had left at the top of the hill. He moved one to a better position to fire at the attacking Taliban even though he was under constant, accurate fire (bullets were ricocheting off the weapon he was carrying). His actions inspired other soldiers to join in the fight back.
While he was manning the machine gun, he was also shouting updates of the situation into his radio. Having realised that more than one machine gun would be needed to effectively fight back the insurgents, he allowed his gun to be taken over by another soldier. He then ran once more through heavy fire to retrieve a second machine gun, position it in a suitable site, and then manned it to fire at the Taliban.
The skirmish lasted approximately 45 minutes during which 11 insurgents were killed and four wounded. It was only when air support arrived that fighting ceased. When it did, he handed the second machine gun over to another soldier. He then returned to the injured American officer and oversaw his medical evacuation.
The Ministry of Defence summarised the reasons for awarding Leakey the Victoria Cross as follows:
George Cross The George Cross (GC) is the highest civilian award for bravery, and ranks equal to the Victoria Cross. It may be awarded to members of the armed forces for acts of heroism not in the presence of the enemy. A miniature of this award is also worn in undress.
Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher, Royal Marines Reserve, July 2008 Colour Sergeant Kevin Haberfield, Royal Marines, August 2005"No. 61311". The London Gazette. 31 July 2015. Notice ID: 2378202 Notice code: 1105. Staff Sergeant Kim Spencer Hughes, The Royal Logistic Corps, March 2010 Staff Sergeant Olaf Sean George Schmid, The Royal Logistic Corps, March 2010 (killed in action) Corporal Mark William Wright, The Parachute Regiment, December 2006 (killed in action)
Order of the Bath Senior officers may be appointed to the Order of the Bath for distinguished service. There are three Divisions: Knight Grand Cross (GCB), Knight Commander (KCB) and Companion (CB).
KCB: Lieutenant General David Julian Richards CBE DSO, late Royal Regiment of Artillery, July 2007; CBE for service in East Timor, DSO for service in Sierra Leone; previously Mentioned in Despatches for actions in Northern Ireland, later appointed GCB
Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is awarded for leadership during operations. It may be awarded to any rank, but the majority of awards are to officers of at least the rank of lieutenant colonel (or equivalent) commanding recognised formations. Although an Order, and with only one Class - Companion - bars may be awarded for further periods of service meriting an appointment to the Order.
Bar to DSO: Lieutenant Colonel James Alexander Delacour De Labilliere DSO MBE, The Rifles, March 2012; original award for service in Iraq, MBE for service in former Yugoslavia / Albania Lieutenant Colonel Angus George Costeker Fair DSO, The Light Dragoons, March 2010; original award for service in Iraq Brigadier Gordon Kenneth Messenger DSO OBE, Royal Marines, September 2009; original award for service in Iraq, OBE for service in former Yugoslavia
DSO: Major Piers Lyndon Ashfield, Grenadier Guards, March 2013 Lieutenant Colonel Michael Patrick Aston, MC, The Royal Anglian Regiment, March 2013 Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Martin Birrell, Royal Marines, July 2008; previously Mentioned in Despatches for actions in Northern Iraq / Southern Turkey Major Paul Allen Blair, The Parachute Regiment, December 2006 Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Robert Macrae Borton, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, March 2009 Brigadier Robert Bernard Bruce, late The Royal Regiment of Scotland, 4 October 2013 Lieutenant Colonel Edward Adam Butler MBE, The Royal Green Jackets, October 2002 (not gazetted until March 2005); previously Mentioned in Despatches for actions in Northern Ireland, awarded QCVS for service in former Yugoslavia and QCVS for service in Sierra Leone (also not gazetted until March 2005); later appointed CBE for further service in Afghanistan Major General Nicholas Patrick Carter CBE, late Royal Green Jackets, March 2011; CBE for previous service in Afghanistan; previously awarded QCVS for service in former Yugoslavia and QCVS for service in Iraq, also appointed OBE for service in former Yugoslavia / Albania Lieutenant Colonel Stuart William Carver, The Royal Anglian Regiment, March 2008; previously Mentioned in Despatches for actions in Northern Ireland Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Desmond Cavanagh, The Rifles, September 2009 Brigadier Douglas McKenzie Chalmers, OBE, late The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, March 2013 Lieutenant Colonel Charles Seymour Collins MBE, The Rifles, March 2011 Brigadier James Michael Cowan OBE, late The Royal Regiment of Scotland, September 2010; OBE for service in Iraq; also awarded QCVS for service in Iraq and Mentioned in Despatches for actions in Northern Ireland Acting Colonel Neil Alexander Den-McKay, OBE, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, July 2015 Lieutenant Colonel Edward Anthony Fenton, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, September 2012 Major Adam Nicholas Baron Foden, The Queen’s Royal Lancers, 4 October 2013 Major Giles Richard Harris MBE, Welsh Guards, March 2010; MBE for service in Iraq Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Sean David Harrison MBE, The Parachute Regiment, September 2011; MBE for service in Sierra Leone; also awarded QCVS for service in Iraq Lieutenant Colonel Matthew John Holmes, Royal Marines, July 2007 Lieutenant Colonel Harry Arthur Blair Holt OBE, Irish Guards, September 2010; previously awarded QCVS for "service in the field" Lieutenant Colonel Matthew John Andrew Jackson, Royal Marines, 4 October 2013 Lieutenant Colonel Paul Melvyn James, Royal Marines, March 2011 Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Jan Kitson, The Rifles, September 2010 Brigadier John Gordon Lorimer MBE, late The Parachute Regiment, March 2008 Lieutenant Colonel James Rowland Martin, MC, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, February 2015 Major General John Chalmers McColl CBE, late The Royal Anglian Regiment, October 2002; CBE for service in former Yugoslavia; also Mentioned in Despatches for actions in former Yugoslavia and appointed OBE for service in Northern Ireland; later appointed Officer of US Legion of Merit for service in Iraq and appointed KCB Major Thomas Robson McDermott, The Royal Tank Regiment Lieutenant Colonel James Andrew John Morris, Royal Marines, September 2009 Major Marcus James Mudd, The Queen's Royal Lancers, March 2011 Lieutenant Colonel Ewen Alexander Murchison MBE, Royal Marines, March 2012; MBE for previous service in Afghanistan Captain Jaimie McCoy Norman, Royal Marines, March 2008 Major Nicholas Charles Laybourne Perry, The King's Royal Hussars, July 2008; later appointed MBE for further service in Afghanistan Brigadier Timothy Buchan Radford OBE, late The Light Infantry, March 2010; previously appointed MBE for service in Northern Ireland Lieutenant Colonel James Christopher Roddis, MBE, The Royal Regiment of Scotland Wing Commander Martin Elliott Sampson, Royal Air Force, September 2006 Major Justin George Edward Stenhouse, The Queen's Dragoon Guards, September 2012 Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Mark Strickland MBE, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, March 2011; awarded QCVS for previous service in Afghanistan