Army major held over ‘medal fiddle’
This may be of more interest to ARRSE members; however, I hope that there's no substance to this........
From The Sunday Times May 3, 2009
Army major held over ‘medal fiddle’ Michael Smith
MILITARY police are investigating whether up to 17 medals and honours awarded to soldiers fighting in Afghanistan were given on the basis of false evidence.
They are examining medals granted to members of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment who were training Afghan soldiers in the southern province of Helmand during the period April to October 2008.
It follows the arrest of Major Robert Armstrong, a Royal Artillery officer attached to the regiment, after a complaint from an officer. Armstrong was awarded the Military Cross for saving the lives of his men when his convoy was ambushed in Helmand last year. His citation read: “As a result of his calm leadership under fire, losses were prevented and the lives of those injured were saved.”
The officer questioned the “under fire” part of the report and claimed the actions of others, including himself, had been attributed to Armstrong.
As part of the investigation all medals awarded as a result of citations written by Lieutenant Colonel Edward Freely, who commanded the battalion in Afghanistan, could be scrutinised. Freely did not himself receive an award.
Three Royal Irish Regiment soldiers serving under Freely received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, second only to the Victoria Cross. The award was deemed at the time to be remarkable.
It is understood this is the first time the British Army has conducted such an investigation. The revelations come amid growing concern of medal inflation in the armed forces.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said last night: “The integrity of the operational honours system is a matter of the utmost importance to us.
“Any suggestion that it has fallen short of the very high standards that we have set ourselves are taken extremely seriously.”
Any disciplinary proceedings brought would be for “bringing the army into disrepute” and dealt with under military law.