Royal Marine Reservist recognised for outstanding work in Sierra Leone

A Royal Marine Reservist from Surrey who played a key role as Chief of Staff in the Ebola Support Team in Sierra Leone has been awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS).

Major Henry Dowlen, 36 from Richmond, has been rewarded for his efforts in saving many lives in the fight against the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

He worked as a coordinator within the National Ebola Response centre and also as Chief of Staff at the Kambia district centre between November 2014 and June 2015. 

Maj Dowlen was attached to the Combined Joint Inter-Agency Task Force, headed by the Department for International Development and consisting of military and civilian personnel – mostly from the UK but also Ireland and Canada.

Last year his efforts were awarded with a special campaign medal. This was the first time in recent history a medal has been created to specifically recognise those who have tackled a humanitarian disaster.

Now working in Geneva as Planning Officer for the new Outbreaks and Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organisation, Maj Dowlen’s focus is on infectious and non-infectious threats to health.

He said: “The QCVS announcement was completely unexpected and I feel quite humbled to have been selected from amongst so many hard working people.  

"It was a privilege to work with a large number of very committed and capable people as part of the response to Ebola.”

Maj Dowlen serves with Royal Marines Reserve London and his career includes two deployments to Afghanistan – in 2008 and 2010. He was awarded the MBE in 2008.