Mil News Queen withdraws M C medal

John A Silkstone

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A former Army major who received the Military Cross for bravery in Afghanistan has been stripped of his medal.

Major Robert Armstrong was awarded the honour in March 2009 for "consistent bravery and inspirational leadership".

But he was arrested later that year as part of a probe into allegations of false battle write ups.

It is believed to be the first time the Queen has withdrawn a gallantry medal from a serviceman.

The London Gazette, the official public record, published a notice which confirmed the award "shall be cancelled and annulled".

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: " The MoD can confirm that an investigation has concluded into the circumstances surrounding the award of a gallantry medal relating to an incident in Afghanistan."
Maj Armstrong was attached to the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan in 2008.
His Military Cross citation said: ''While mentoring the Afghan National Army vehicle patrol Armstrong showed consistent bravery and inspirational leadership.

''As a result of his calm leadership under fire, losses were prevented and the lives of those injured were saved.''

At the time the inquiry was launched an Army spokesman said: " The integrity of the operational honours system is a matter of utmost importance to us. Any suggestion that it has fallen short of the very high standards that we set ourselves are taken extremely seriously and are investigated thoroughly."

Maj Armstrong was reportedly dismissed from the Army in 2012 for storing secret documents at home following a court martial in Colchester, Essex. He was also given a one-year suspended prison sentence .

silky
 
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A strange set of circumstances. The Major was serving in Afghanistan so deserves our respect but....to falsify a report to obtain a higher award is nothing more than stolen valour.
 

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