Originally Posted by
Bismark
One interesting note is that almost no civilian SAR units have ever won awards for daring rescues (ie Maisie Lewis award, GAPAN awards etc) it has always been the military who seem to have gone out in the most diabolical of conditions.
Whilst that 'almost' lets you away with it, that's a bit disengenious. The number of civillian SAR crews in the Uk has always been much less than military, so the law of averages means that Mil crews are more likely to receive awards. However, a quick search finds:
Newsroom - Press Releases
Coastguard receives bravery award - Fishing Related Media Coverage - TrawlerPictures.net
The award is named after a Civillian winchman who lost his life - and was awarded the George Medal - on a rescue.