Afghanistan heroes honoured

The prime minister thought it right to honour heroes

Heroes of the war on terrorism in Afghanistan have been commended in a one-off Honours list.

One hundred people are honoured but Downing Street said the true extent of the bravery of many of the people involved will never be known.

The Afghanistan list comprises 56 military and 44 civilian names.

Although such honours are extremely rare, the prime minister thought it was an important gesture.

The DSO goes to Major General John Chalmers McColl, of the Royal Anglian Regiment, for his outstanding service in preparing the peacekeeping force and leading troops from 19 countries.

Andrew Pittock: Helped save two airline staff

The Queen's Commendation for Bravery goes to Warrant Officer Andrew Pittock of the RAF.

He led an 11-man unit to save the lives of two Afghan airline officials who were being beaten up by a 300-strong mob.

The CBE has been awarded to James Poston, head of the coalition information centre at the Foreign Office.

Also receiving a CBE is Professor Angus Nicoll, director of communicable disease surveillance centre at the Public Health Laboratory Service.

Military awards

Another CBE recipient is Mukesh Kapila, head of the conflict and humanitarian affairs section at the Department for International Development.

Other awards in this and an accompanying Ministry of Defence list, include OBEs for James Bowden, deputy head of mission in Kabul, Nicholas Cannon, the first secretary in Islamabad and William Elliott, first secretary in Kabul.

MBEs have been awarded to Colin Hicks, third secretary in Islamabad and Alexander Brown, second secretary in Muscat.

Among the military, there are Queen's gallantry medals for Lieutenant Paul Ness and Lance Corporal Dean MacMaster, both of the Corps of Royal Engineers.

They have been honoured for their bravery in disposing of an unexploded World War II bomb at Lingfield in January 2002.

There is also a Queen's Commendation for Bravery for Captain Timothy Edmunds-McClune, Corps of Royal Engineers.

He was rewarded for searching for survivors from a capsized dive-vessel in Belize in October 2001.

Altogether, the two lists comprise some 188 personnel, both military and civilian.