Sixty-six Regular and Reserve Army personnel are cited in the Military Division of the New Year Honours List 2024, announced in the London Gazette today, 29 December 2023.
Personnel are recognised for their outstanding achievements during a very busy year for the British Army, which saw the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in May, and His Majesty’s first King’s Birthday Parade in June.
Thousands of troops travelled the globe on operations, exercises and humanitarian missions, working alongside NATO and other countries’ armed forces, and in the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Awards touch every part of the British Army from supporting mental health to delivering infrastructure projects; from fighting cyber-crime to planning the biggest ceremonial events; from musicianship to medical advancements, and from training Ukrainian soldiers to inspiring the next generation.
Female soldiers and officers are recognised in the majority of awards, with many worthy recipients cited for supporting their fellow soldiers and helping the Armed Forces to become a better place for women to serve.
CBE
Colonel Lucy Giles, Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), is being honoured with a CBE. Her citation says: “She has made a profound and far-reaching impact on the Army, Defence and on an incredibly wide range of civilian and military organisations and charities.”
On learning of her award, Col Giles said: "I am extremely humbled to be awarded a CBE in the Kings' New Year Honours List. It was totally unexpected, a wonderful surprise and I'm hugely grateful. My husband, Nick, and our children, Jess and Alex, are also delighted, very proud and excited, as are my parents in Wincanton.”
Col Giles was appointed the first female College Commander at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, commanding New College in 2015. Continuing to blaze a trail for women, Col Giles set up the Army’s Gender Advisory Council to advocate important cultural and procedural changes.
Her citation continues: “She serves as an Ambassador for Women in Defence and is a member of their governing body, representing women across the services, the Civil Service and Defence-related industry.”
Col Giles said: “I have been in the Army for 32 years and the changes for women over these last three decades have been profound. I am really pleased to have been part of this transformation, but I'm conscious that I walk very much in the shadow of some amazing trailblazers before me; this award is as much for them as it is for me.
“In my final years of service at the Land Command and Staff College, I will continue to showcase the important role that women play in the Armed Forces, both internally and externally, through changing perspectives, role-modelling positive behaviours and ensuring the value of kindness is not just understood but practiced.
“This CBE is the icing on the cake of a tremendous adventure in the military and I will always be extremely thankful for the opportunities and support that it has given me."
OBE
Lieutenant Colonel Tracy-Louise Appleyard, Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), is to be awarded an OBE. As Defence and Army Consultant Adviser in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for Joint Hospital Group (South West), Lt Col Appleyard ‘has changed the face of women’s healthcare across Defence,’ according to her award citation.
The citation continues: “Delivering time and again to save the lives of women and babies and to ensure fulfilling military careers are an option for women. She has shown that the Army, and wider Defence, is a place where everyone can succeed regardless of gender.”
MBE
Staff Sergeant Charlotte Spence, Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC), is recognised with an MBE. Her citation states: “Selfless, committed and inspirational, she exemplifies the very best qualities of the British Army and the Royal Army Physical Training Corps.”
SSgt Spence has actively promoted positive mindsets to soldiers and officers for more than 10 years. “Her guidance has helped those suffering from low confidence to grow, regenerate their prospects, and return to an active, purposeful career,” her citation says.
The New Year Honours List - Army
APPOINTMENT TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH
As Dame Commander (DCB)
Lieutenant General Sharon Patricia Moffat NESMITH
As Companions (CB)
Major General Kevin Mark COPSEY, OBE
Major General John Robert MEAD, OBE
APPOINTMENTS TO AND PROMOTIONS IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
As Commanders (CBE)
Brigadier Vivienne Wendy BUCK
Brigadier (now Major General) Julian Nicholas Edward BUCZACKI
Brigadier Matthew Timothy CANSDALE, MBE
Major General Darren Howard CROOK
Colonel Lucy Margaret GILES
Colonel Michael Robert SMITH
As Officers (OBE)
Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Paul ANDREW, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Lieutenant Colonel Tracy-Louise APPLEYARD, Royal Army Medical Corps
Colonel Edward Hugh James CARTER
Colonel Nigel Offley CREWE-READ, MBE
Lieutenant Colonel Ewan Christian Noble HARRIS, The Royal Welsh
Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Matthew HOLMES, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Colonel Matthew Gordon Timothy LEWIS
Lieutenant Colonel (now Acting Colonel) John Andrew LYONS, Royal Corps of Signals
Lieutenant Colonel Craig David POPE, Royal Army Medical Corps
Colonel Thomas WOOLLEY
Colonel Nicholas George Charles YARDLEY
As Members (MBE)
Major John Edward BAILEFF, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Major Allan Paul BEARD, Intelligence Corps
Lieutenant Colonel John George BRADBURY, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) Keith Michael Timothy BROOKS, VR, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Warrant Officer Class 1 (now Captain) Barry Lee BYRON, VR, Adjutant General’s Corps (Royal Military Police) (now General Service Corps)
Captain Giles Alexander Leighton CLARKE, The Royal Logistic Corps
Major Lisa Jane CLARKE, Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)
Major James Philip DOTT, The Parachute Regiment
Major Brian James DUPREE, Royal Army Physical Training Corps
Major Robert George FELLOWS, The Rifles
Major Toby Christian FOSTER, The Rifles
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Simon GARRARD, Corps of Royal Engineers
Captain (now Major) Alex Jonathon GLYNN, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Major Jason Arthur Evan GROVES, The Royal Welsh
Major Kamal GURUNG, The Queen’s Gurkha Signals
Major Alexander Roy HAMILTON, VR, Corps of Royal Engineers
Major Peter Anthony HARRISON, VR, The Royal Logistic Corps
Major Steven Ross Duncan MAGUIRE, The Royal Irish Regiment
Bombardier (now Acting Sergeant) Alicia Rhiannon MARTIN, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Major Neil Alexander McCLELLAND, Scots Guards
Major Christopher James Patrick MURPHY, The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)
Corporal Tonderai NDLELA, Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher David NEWTON, Royal Regiment of Artillery
Private Ernest Chinazor OKENYI, The Royal Logistic Corps
Captain Pierre Andrew OZANNE, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment
Sergeant Daniel Adam POWDERHAM-BISSELL, Intelligence Corps
Staff Sergeant Matthew Francis ROBINSON, Corps of Royal Engineers
Major Charles Karu SINGLETON, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment
Staff Sergeant Charlotte Louise SPENCE, Royal Army Physical Training Corps
Major Jonathan Grant STUDWELL, Intelligence Corps
Major Thomas Daniel SWEENEY, Army Air Corps
Sergeant Edward William SWINDELL, VR, Corps of Royal Engineers
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew James TEETON, Corps of Royal Engineers
Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) James VINEY, Corps of Royal Engineers
Captain (now Acting Major) David Edward WILLIAMS, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
OP GOLDEN ORB
Major Stacy Leanne OLIVER, Royal Army Medical Corps
Acting Lieutenant Colonel (now Lieutenant Colonel) Daniel Sambrooke PROCTOR, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Major Francesca Louise SYKES, Royal Regiment of Artillery
ROYAL RED CROSS
As Ordinary Associate, Second Class (ARRC)
Staff Sergeant Natalie Dawn DAVIES, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
Major Adam Gordon HUGHES, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
Major Jennifer Elizabeth JACKSON, TD VR, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
KING’S VOLUNTEER RESERVES MEDAL (KVRM)
Captain Carl GOYMER, VR, General List
Major Adrian Thomas HUNT, DL VR, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Warrant Officer Class 1 Shane Julian MARRIOTT, VR, Army Air Corps
Warrant Officer Class 2 Denis McKEE, VR, The Royal Irish Regiment
Major Dawn Marie SAUNDERS, VR, Royal Corps of Signals