Military Cross for Iraq RAF man

Cpl Hayden carried an injured colleague to cover whilst under fire

An RAF infantryman has been awarded the Military Cross for "outstanding courage" in a fire fight near Basra.

Corporal David Hayden, from Spalding in Lincolnshire, received the award for bravery of the "very highest order" during the Iraq incident last August.

When his regiment came under attack, 29-year-old Cpl Hayden helped move a fatally wounded colleague to cover.

Among others to be honoured by the Queen were children's author Jacqueline Wilson and actor Leslie Phillips.

The serviceman was awarded the medal for showing outstanding gallantry when 1 Squadron RAF Regiment came under attack in Al-Waki - a village near Basra.

Taliban

There is no I in team, we are one big team and I dedicate this to all the lads in 1 Squadron RAF Regiment Cpl David Hayden

When Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard was fatally shot, Cpl Hayden moved him into cover with the help of a colleague and fired back, killing a Taliban soldier.

It was the first time an RAF regiment had been involved in a major foot patrol battle since British forces arrived in 2003.

The citation for his medal said: "Without a second thought for his own safety, Hayden volunteered to carry the injured man out of the fire fight.

"He dashed across open ground under a hail of enemy small arms fire."

Receiving his honour, Cpl Hayden paid tribute to the bravery of his colleagues: "There is no I in team, we are one big team and I dedicate this to all the lads in 1 Squadron RAF Regiment.

"There wasn't just me on the ground that day, there were another 40 blokes who seemingly did as much as I did," he said.

Cpl Hayden has been in the RAF for 10 years. He now works in Suffolk training new recruits.

He was joined at the ceremony by his wife Philippa, mother Sylvia and grandfather David Coles.

Services to sport

The children's book author, Jacqueline Wilson, was awarded a damehood for services to literature.

Her books have been translated into 34 languages and more than 20 million copies have been sold.

Actor Leslie Phillips was also recognised with a CBE. It is the second honour he has been awarded - the 84-year-old star of the Carry On film series received an OBE in 1998.

Accepting the honour he said he was fortunate to have had such a long, enjoyable career.

"It's wonderful, I've been very lucky to have two awards - I've done a long term.

"My father died early on and I was the youngest in the family, I was only nine. My brother and sister went to work quickly because we were short of money and I went on the stage at the age of ten."

Former England head rugby coach Brian Ashton received an MBE for services to sport, and Geoffrey Thompson, former chairman of the Football Association, received an OBE.