Ten Royal Navy sailors have been awarded operational honours and awards for exceptional work and dedication to service.
The 56th Operational Honours and Awards List, released today, recognises those who have displayed bravery, commitment and meritorious service.
Many of the awards this year have been granted to sailors serving in Bahrain, particularly those on board frigate HMS Montrose.
In addition to the honours list, the late Major General Matt Holmes was awarded the Legion of Merit – a prestigious honour from the United States Armed Forces.
The medal is granted to individuals who demonstrate an exceptional level of meritorious conduct.
US authorities granted the honour to Maj Gen Holmes, the former Commandant General of the Royal Marines, for the ‘outstanding leadership and personal initiative’ he showed during his service in Afghanistan three years ago.
The honours list includes a CBE for Commodore Dean Bassett for his time as the United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander – the senior Royal Navy officer in Bahrain.
He was responsible for all British naval forces in the Gulf region and running a multinational coalition during a time of intense international scrutiny.
Commander Ollie Hucker, the former Commanding Officer of HMS Montrose, is among those awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service for his efforts in the same region.
The Type 23 frigate is deployed east of Suez for three years as part of the Navy’s new Forward Presence programme which ensures vessels spend more time at sea in an operational theatre – and their crews enjoy more settled, plan-able lives.
Cdr Hucker was recognised for ‘exceptional leadership and drive’ that got the best from his ship’s company in a demanding environment.
Cdr Hucker, who now serves as the Royal Navy’s Commander Sea Training, said: “I am humbled and honoured to have been recognised in this way, along with a number of my ship’s company.
“It recognises how the challenges of COVID did not impact on our delivery of operations during a challenging period, which was truly a team effort. This is testament to everyone’s hard work, whether it was monitoring merchant shipping through the Strait of Hormuz or the multiple drugs busts we had during our time at sea.”
THE LIST IN FULL
Commander in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Commodore Dean Bassett
Officers in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Commander Murray Adam
Captain Fiona Percival
Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Lieutenant Commander Paul Inglesby
Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS)
Chief Petty Officer M Craib
Lieutenant Martin Head
Commander Ollie Hucker
Petty Officer R Jenkins
Chief Petty Officer G Thompson
Queen’s Commendation for Bravery
Petty Officer J Norfolk
US Legion of Merit
Major General Matt Holmes
