Iraq bomb hero awarded George Cross

An Army bomb disposal expert has been awarded the George Cross for his heroic actions in Iraq last year.

Captain Peter Norton, 43, from Gloucester lost a leg and part of an arm during a mission to investigate a bomb attack in Baghdad.

Captain Norton of the Royal Logistic Corps is only the 22nd member of the Armed Forces to receive the award since 1945.

In all 70 UK Servicemen and women are to be honoured in this list for their role in operations around the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, and the former Yugoslavia.

Defence Secretary, John Reid, said: "These individuals have shown outstanding courage, bravery and tenacity in the face of the enemy or in particularly dangerous circumstances. They have shown exceptional commitment to their Country and their heroic actions fill me with a great sense of humility and pride. They are an example to us all and we should all be proud of them and their achievements."

Captain Norton, an Ammunition Technical Officer, receives the George Cross for an act of "the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger" in the Al Bayaa district near Baghdad, Iraq.

On 24 July 2005, Captain Norton led a team to the scene of a bomb attack on a three vehicle US patrol. On arrival, he took charge and ensured the safety of the coalition forces present. When he found out that a possible command wire had been spotted in the vicinity, he instructed his team and US forces to stay with their vehicles.

He went forward to check the area himself, but following an explosion in which Captain Norton sustained serious injuries to his legs, arms and lower abdomen, he realised that he had stepped on anti-personnel type device and there were likely to be further devices present.

Despite being seriously wounded, he instructed his team on which areas were safe and where they could move.

The following day, a further device was found less than 10 metres away, which proved that his "prescience and clear orders in the most difficult circumstances undoubtedly prevented further serious injury or loss of life."

The next highest award, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was awarded to Colour Sergeant Matthew Tomlinson. CSgt Tomlinson was commanding a US Marine Corps assault force on the Euphrates River near Fallujah in November 2004 when they came under fire from a superior and well-defended enemy position. His decision to turn his lead craft towards the attack created an element of surprise, which unhinged the enemy.

CSgt Tomlinson's citation commended his "sure, aggressive and decisive actions throughout saved the lives of many in his US Marine Corps patrol."

The Military Cross was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel James Woodham of the Royal Anglian Regiment and Captain Simon Bratcher, The Royal Logistic Corps.

(SP/KMcA)