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Mar 25 - Gibraltar Regiment Soldier Awarded Mention-in-Despatches

liam downsAs a reward for his notable acts of courage whilst serving on an operational tour in Afghanistan last year, Pte Liam Downs of the Gibraltar Regiment has been awarded a ‘Mentioned-in-Despatches’ (MID).

When a soldier is ‘Mentioned-in-Despatches’ his name appears in an official report written by a senior commander to his superiors, detailing the conduct of a military operation and describes a soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.

In the British Armed Forces the report is published in the London Gazette. In the nations of the British Commonwealth, soldiers who are ‘Mentioned-in-Despatches’ receive a certificate and are entitled to wear a silver oak leaf on the ribbon of their operational service medal.

Details of Liam's brave actions, released today, explained, 'On June 21 last year his company deployed from Patrol Base Pimon on a mission to disrupt a notorious enemy safe haven. The insurgents in the area were described as being a “particularly aggressive” group who were well armed and veterans of several years’ fighting. As Liam and his comrades pressed forward they came under heavy fire from an isolated compound. Though sheltered, they only had minutes before the insurgents would outflank them and the only escape was to cross open ground for better cover. Liam volunteered to climb the roof of the compound and provide covering fire, becoming the focus of the enemy with rounds ricocheting off surrounding walls. Undeterred, he pressed on to the top and from folds of the roof, raked the insurgent positions some 300 metres away with returning fire.'