Military Cross for TA Soldier

Military Cross for TA Soldier
Friday, April 23, 2004



A Liverpool builder has become the first member of the Territorial Army to be awarded a Military Cross, for saving a wounded officer's life in Iraq.

It was the first time Michael Davison, 21, a reservist in The King's and Cheshire Regiment, had seen active service.

His citation states that he "showed courage and composure under fire". Kingsman is the equivalent rank to a private.

On July 4 last year, two months after hostilities had ended, his platoon commander was wounded and left stranded. Under fire, Kingsman Davison ran forward and dragged the officer to safety.

The British military operation in Iraq has made extensive use of part-time soldiers. Of the 45,000 soldiers involved in Operation Telic - the codename for the British presence in Iraq - 10% came from reservists, mostly the TA.

Until 1993, only officers were eligible for the Military Cross, and other ranks were awarded the Military Medal.

In other awards announced yesterday by the Ministry of Defence, Regimental Sergeant Major Nicholas Pettit of the Royal Engineers was awarded the George Medal for rescuing four RAF personnel who were left stranded in their damaged Land Rover in the middle of a minefield.