The service and dedication of 67 soldiers and officers, regular and reserve, are being recognised in the New Year Honours List 2019. The men and women from all ranks and all walks of life are being honoured for their service to the military and the nation.
Topping the list is Chief of the General Staff General Mark Carleton-Smith CBE, who is honoured as a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB). Earning the knighthood, he takes the on the honorary title of Sir, which is traditionally bestowed upon all those officers who lead the British Army.
Major General Susan Ridge is to be made a Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB). Gen Ridge is Director General of the Army Legal Services Branch and is the first woman to hold the two-star rank of Major General.
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is an order of chivalry founded by George I in 1725 and derives its name from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements.
‘Inspired thousands to achieve goals they never thought possible’
Some of those receiving an appointment to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as a Member (MBE) include Major Pervez Badruddin of the City of London and North East Sector Army Cadet Force who is being recognised for 46 ‘exceptional years of loyal service’ to the Army Cadet Force in London.
His citation says: “He has made an exceptional contribution to thousands of young people across diverse backgrounds. His energy and drive to the cadets, his community and his mosque has been an example to all. His work has built many bridges and inspired many young people to achieve more than they thought possible through active participation in Army Cadet Force activities as well as working with vulnerable youths.”
Major Nics Wetherill, Ice Maiden Expedition team leader, is also to be honoured with an MBE. She made history by planning and leading the first all-female team across the Antarctic unassisted. Not only did they succeed, when many doubted they would, but the expedition “has been noted as an example of the highest standards of polar expedition planning and execution, providing a template for further expeditions to these regions to emulate,” according to the citation.
“The expedition has excited and inspired thousands to achieve goals they never thought possible.”
Lieutenant Scott Sears, 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, became the youngest person to reach the South Pole alone and unassisted, on Christmas Day 2017. He raised more than £40,000 for the Gurkha Welfare Fund whilst conducting the record breaking feat in his own time. He is also being awarded the MBE.
Captain Melonie Adair, RAMC, commissioned into the Royal Medical Corps and became the first ever female Quartermaster (Technical) in the history of the Army Medical Services. As a soldier in the Royal Logistic Corps, her dedication and selfless commitment saw her reach the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 in just 14 years.
Melonie’s citation says: “Throughout 22 years of an outstanding military career, she has been at the leading-edge of a vanguard of women seizing every opportunity to expand the boundaries of what is possible for those that follow.
“At every step of the way she has given her all, deploying to every major operational theatre and multiple exercises worldwide.” She is to be awarded an MBE.
Appointments to the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of The Bath
As Knight Commander (KCB)
General Mark Alexander Popham CARLETON-SMITH, CBE
As Companions (CB)
Acting Lieutenant General Martin Charles Marshall BRICKNELL, QHP
Major General Susan Kerstin RIDGE
Appointments to and promotions in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of The Bath
As Commanders (CBE)
Brigadier James Drew DANIEL, MBE
Brigadier Peter DENNIS
Brigadier Andrew Timothy JACKSON
Colonel James Graham ROBINSON
Brigadier David William SOUTHALL, OBE
As Officers (OBE)
Colonel Paul Julian ARMSTRONG
Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Marshall WIGHT-BOYCOTT, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
Lieutenant Colonel Neil James Mark BUDD, MBE, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Acting Colonel Kim James KNUTTON, Army Cadet Force
Lieutenant Colonel (now Colonel) David Mark STOTER, Royal Corps of Signals
Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Roy STUTHRIDGE, Corps of Royal Engineers
Colonel Ross David THURLOW
Colonel Stuart Charles WILLIAMS
As Members (MBE)
Captain Melonie Jane ADAIR, Royal Army Medical Corps
Corporal of Horse Carl Adam ADAMS, The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel James ASHTON, Royal Corps of Signals
Acting Captain (now Acting Major) Pervez BADRUDDIN, Army Cadet Force
Corporal (now Sergeant) Andrew Charles BARTON, The Mercian Regiment
Captain Kevin Stuart BARTRAM, Corps of Royal Engineers
Major (now Lieutenant Colonel) Philip Richard George BRAY, The Rifles
Acting Major Trevor CALTON, Army Cadet Force
Major Nicholas Peter COLQUHOUN, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
Lieutenant Colonel Peter William CONN, Corps of Royal Engineers
Major Jonathan Christopher CORBETT, The Royal Logistic Corps
Warrant Officer Class 1 Terry Brian DOVE, The Light Dragoons
Major Matthew Christopher DUFF, Royal Corps of Signals
Corporal Paul David GRIFFIN, Intelligence Corps
Sergeant Martin Peter HUNT, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Corporal Sohail IFRAZ, Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)
Major Andrew Alfred Alexander INGLIS, VR, Corps of Royal Engineers, Army Reserve
Major Mandy ISLAM, Royal Army Medical Corps
Chaplain to the Forces (3rd Class) Reverend Peter William Stephen KING, Royal Army Chaplains’ Department
Major Paul Robert McPHERSON, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Lieutenant Colonel Martin Paul PAYNE, BEM, Royal Army Medical Corps
Warrant Officer Class 1 Gareth David Wolf PRYOR, The Royal Logistic Corps
Major Edward James QUICKE, The Light Dragoons
Warrant Officer Class 1 Marc David RICHARDSON, The Royal Logistic Corps
Acting Lieutenant Colonel (now Lieutenant Colonel) Kevin Frazier Nash ROBERTS, Corps of Army Music
Lieutenant Scott SEARS, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
Lieutenant Colonel Brendan SHAW, Army Air Corps
Warrant Officer Class 2 Lee Michael SHIELDS, The Yorkshire Regiment
Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) David Joseph STEAD, Corps of Royal Engineers
Major Emma Margaret THOMAS, Royal Corps of Signals
Major James THOMPSON, VR, Intelligence Corps, Army Reserve
Major Alan Patrick TINDALE, The Royal Logistic Corps
Major Arran David Egglinton WADE, The Parachute Regiment
Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) Caroline Ruth WADE, The Royal Logistic Corps
Warrant Officer Class 2 Paul Vincent WADE, Royal Corps of Signals
Captain James Anthony WADSWORTH, CGC, The Royal Logistic Corps
Major Christopher Michael WANE, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Major Nicola Claire Temple WETHERILL, Royal Army Medical Corps
Major Richard Peter Philip WILSON, VR, The Parachute Regiment, Army Reserve
Captain Hannah Rose WINTERBOURNE, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Royal Red Cross
As Ordinary Member, First Class (RRC)
Lieutenant Colonel Jayne Elizabeth CUMMING, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
As Ordinary Associate, Second Class (ARRC)
Sergeant Colodia Sukali MUZVIDZIWA, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM)
Warrant Officer Class 2 Simon James COULSON, VR, The Mercian Regiment, Army Reserve
Brigadier Peter Huw GILBERT, TD DL VR, Army Reserve
Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael James GUEST, VR, The Royal Logistic Corps, Army Reserve
Major Iain McLean MACDONALD, VR, The Royal Logistic Corps, Army Reserve
In addition to these State honours, 45 members of the Army are to receive the Meritorious Service Medal.
The Army’s New Year’s Honours List 2019 is published in the London Gazette at 2230 hrs on Friday 28 December 2018.