Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
Thirty-two men and women from across the Senior Service are named in the end-of-year list, nine officers and ratings specifically for operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Yemen over the winter/spring of 2022-23.
They have been singled out for their efforts either in the line of fire of Houthi rebels indiscriminately attacking shipping – or by directing the complex operation to protect merchant vessels and keep the link between the Middle East and Mediterranean open.
Commander Pete Evans was the Commanding Officer of HMS Diamond during an historic deployment that saw the Type 45 destroyer shoot down nine drones and a Houthi missile. He earns an OBE for his leadership under constant threat of attack during an operation which moved at a relentless pace.
He says the award belongs just as much to the 200 men and women under his command for their actions and resolve in testing circumstances.
“I’m incredibly proud of HMS Diamond’s ship’s company, who showed an incredible amount of professionalism and bravery in the Red Sea. It was their actions which kept the merchant mariners in the region safe,” he said.
“We were told to stop merchant ships coming to harm and we definitely did that.”
Fittingly several former members of HMS Diamond’s crew are recognised in the honours (they have since left the destroyer, which is undergoing an extensive refit in Portsmouth Naval Base).
Among them is Able Seaman Warfare Specialist M Winton, mentioned in dispatches for his actions. With the pitching of the ship moving at high speed, the darkness, and low altitude of the small targets, Able Seaman Winton picked out an enemy drone, took aim and successfully destroyed it with the 30mm cannon.
This manual aiming of the weapon system, unaided by targeting technology, undoubtedly saved the lives of the civilian sailors on board a merchant ship.
Also earning an OBE is Commander Rich Kemp for his role as HMS Richmond’s Commanding Officer during the frigate’s own mission facing down the Houthis.
Richmond relieved Diamond while the latter resupplied and underwent maintenance in Gibraltar – for 35 days Cdr Kemp sustained his ship in the highest threat areas, shooting down two attack drones.
The ten months Commander David Armstrong spent as deputy commander of an international naval group in the Middle East spanned the most successful in the history of Combined Task Force 150 with 22 tonnes of illegal narcotics seized by coalition warships, including British frigates HMS Montrose and Lancaster.
Now in command of HMS Iron Duke, which returned home to Portsmouth from patrols just five days before Christmas, Cdr Armstrong receives the King’s Commendation for Valuable Service for “a consummate performance” during his stint in Bahrain where he proved to be an outstanding diplomat “combined with his ability to bring the best out of the team”.
Warrant Officer 1 Nick Ollive is made an MBE for his outstanding service to the Royal Marines, most recently as Corps Regimental Sergeant Major - advisor and confidante to two Commandant General Royal Marines and an exceptional leader for all non-commissioned Royal Marines, particularly important in a time of change.
His advice and experience has made “a significant, long-lasting, and game-changing difference to how the Royal Marines operate”.
Commander Teilo Elliot-Smith was in the vanguard of the Royal Navy’s overseas patrol ship programme to deploy a new generation of warships around the globe.
As Commanding Officer of HMS Tamar he laid the foundations for the ship’s ongoing long-term mission to Asia and the Far East – a vital element of the UK’s ‘Indo-Pacific tilt’ of the past few years and the RN’s permanent return to the region in a generation.
His accomplishments – and those of his ship/crew – are described as “immeasurable” and earn him the OBE.
Among senior officers, there are knighthoods for the Commandant General (head) of the Royal Marines, General Gwyn Jenkins and Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Martin Connell.
And “trailblazer” Rear Admiral Jude Terry, the first female admiral in the Service, is made a Companion of the Order of the Bath for her “significant contribution” to the Royal Navy and wider Defence in her role as People Director – a challenging portfolio encompassing training, education and recruitment.
I’m incredibly proud of HMS Diamond’s ship’s company, who showed an incredible amount of professionalism and bravery in the Red Sea
Commander Pete Evans
The full list of those recognised is:
KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH (KCB)
Vice Admiral Martin J Connell CBE
General G Jenkins CB OBE
COMPANION IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH (CB)
Rear Admiral Tom E Manson OBE
Rear Admiral Jude H Terry OBE
COMMANDER IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (CBE)
Captain Ben S Haskins OBE
Surgeon Commodore Jason Smith KHP
OFFICER IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (OBE)
Commander Charlie A Collins
Captain Stu Crombie
Commander Teilo J Elliot-Smith
Captain David A Gillett
Commander Pete A Evans
Commander Rich L Kemp
MEMBER OF THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (MBE)
Lieutenant Commander John R E Gabb
Chief Petty Officer Warfare Specialist (Tactical Submarines) Russell E Green
Leading Hand (Intelligence) Chloe N R MacDonald
Warrant Officer 1 Nicholas A T Ollive RM
Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) David Smee
Lieutenant Colonel (Volunteer Cadet Corps) Christopher R Spratt
Commander Rob Steadman
Lieutenant Commander Charles A G Thornton
ROYAL RED CROSS – ASSOCIATE (ARRC)
Lieutenant Commander Kim Cockcroft Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service
KING’S VOLUNTEER RESERVE MEDAL (KVRM)
Captain Paul T Hill RD Royal Naval Reserve
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (DSO)
Colonel Al S Carns RM OBE MC MP
MENTION IN DISPATCHES (MiD)
Lieutenant Commander Matt P Johnson
Lieutenant Commander Daniel Owen-Hughes
Able Seaman Warfare Specialist (Abovewater Warfare Weapons) M Winton
KING’S COMMENDATION FOR VALUABLE SERVICE
Commander David M Armstrong
Lieutenant Commander James P Bradshaw
Petty Officer Warfare Specialist (Above Water Warfare Tactical) Reuben C Homewood
Lieutenant Nikolai E P L’Vov-Basirov
Lieutenant Matt R Poxon
Lieutenant Commander Katie Romanowska Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service
MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL – DECEMBER 2024
Warrant Officer 1 (Exec) S J Baker
Warrant Officer 1 WS (Submarines) P I Brooke
Warrant Officer 1 Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) W J Burt
Warrant Officer 1 Warfare Specialist (Above Water Warfare Tactical) W J Cook
Warrant Officer 1 Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) B M Cooper
Warrant Officer 1 Warfare Specialist (Above Water Warfare Tactical) A Crawford
Warrant Officer 1 (Diver) K E Fenwick QGM
Chief Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering) G L Flowers
Warrant Officer 1 (Exec) J P Garvey
Chief Petty Officer (Air Engineering Technician) S B D Gavin
Warrant Officer 1 (Air Engineering Technician) D M Haseltine
Warrant Officer 1 (Exec) D Hemmings
Warrant Officer 2 J D A Hill Royal Marines
Lieutenant A Hurley Royal Navy
Chief Petty Officer (Aircrewman) P J Hutton
Chief Petty Officer (Diver) M E Jacobs
Chief Petty Officer (Int) A E Morton
Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) R S O’Callaghan
Warrant Officer 1 Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) D A Rogers
Warrant Officer 1 N R Shutt Royal Marines
Warrant Officer 2 Air Engineering Technician (Avionics) D Stanley
Warrant Officer 1 (Diver) R J Walker
Warrant Officer 1 Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) G M Wilson
Joint Commander’s Commendation
Major T C Arkell Royal Marines
Lieutenant Commander J W Cuddeford
Lieutenant Commander D M Gell
Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) M Maiden
Lieutenant Commander J Murray
Sergeant R Stewart Royal Marines
Lieutenant Commander D Thomson
Joint Commander’s Team Commendation
HMS Lancaster RM Boarding Team
HMS Lancaster Starboard Electronic Warfare Sub-department
Land Commander’s Commendation
Commander E Bingham Royal Naval Reserve
First Sea Lord’s Commendation
Chief Petty Officer (Coxswain) A Bullingham
Warrant Officer 2 (Cryptologic Technician) L Bugby
Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) J Coppock
Warrant Officer 2 (Police) P Faulkner
Chief Petty Officer (Survival Equipment Technician) S Holland
Mr Simon Kyte
Leading (Diver) C Millington
Captain D Price Royal Marines
Commander D Slattery
Petty Officer (Cryptologic Technician) C Storey
Surgeon Lieutenant H Sutton
Colour Sergeant T Wallace Royal Marines
Lieutenant Commander T Wilson
Royal Navy Commendation
Lieutenant Commander C Boucher
Warrant Officer 1 Engineering Technician (Weapons Engineering) C Cartwright
Lieutenant J Cowell
Leading Engineering Technician (Communications Information Systems) E Dart
Mrs Abigail Faulkner
Lieutenant Commander L Funnell
Lieutenant Commander A Hall
Lieutenant C Ivill
Chief Officer S Jordan Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) C King
Lieutenant P Massey
Captain C McGinley Royal Marines Reserve
Warrant Officer 2 (Aircrewman) P Rudd
Lieutenant Colonel A Sandiford Royal Marines
Leading Logistician (Supply Chain) A Stacey
Second Officer E Walters Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Colour Sergeant R Williams Royal Marines
Major M Woodward Royal Engineers
Royal Navy Team Commendations
Royal Marine Reserve Force Development Team
814 Naval Air Squadron
Chief of Joint Operations Commendation
Lieutenant Commander S A H Wood
Commander UK Strategic Command Commendation
Lieutenant Commander S Williams
Vice Chief of Defence Staff Commendation
Major D S Johnston Royal Marines
Commander Field Army Commendation
Colour Sergeant D J Sykes Royal Marines
AOC 22 Group Commendations
Petty Officer Physical Trainer J Collin
Lieutenant Commander M H Win, Royal New Zealand Navy
Air and Space Commander and Air Member for Operations Commendation
Petty Officer Physical Trainer A Snowdon
Commander JAC Commendations:
Petty Officer (Naval Airman (Aircraft Handler)) S A Ashcroft
Lieutenant C Etheridge
Chief Petty Officer (Air Engineering Technician) W Guthrie
Chief Petty Officer (Air Engineering Technician) P Hillman
Chief Petty Officer (Air Engineering Technician) R B Hunter
Lieutenant Commander D J Inglis
Corporal N J O’Connell
Lieutenant Commander A M Rasor
Lieutenant E A G Riley
Chief Petty Officer (Air Engineering Technician) Y Starkey
Mr T Tatler
Commander JAC Team Commendations:
847 NAS Deployed Support Section, Ex Steadfast Defender
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.