Top bravery medal for Iraq hero
Published: January 3, 2007
A COURAGEOUS former Clipstone soldier is celebrating after being awarded the coveted Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for bravery while serving in Iraq.
Colour Sergeant James Harkess (38) will be presented with the prestigious medal — a bravery award second only to the Victoria Cross — by the Queen at a glittering Buckingham Palace ceremony next summer.
The former Clipstone Colliery worker, who joined the Army when the pit closed 15 years ago, earned the award during service with the 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.
He completed three exceptional acts of bravery that have been detailed in the citation for the medal:
On 11th June Clr Sgt Harkess held a pivotal position at a key junction for six hours despite coming under enemy fire at Al Amarah — the largest and most intense action in Iraq since 2004.
On 23rd May Clr Sgt Harkess prevented British soldiers from becoming isolated and saved lives by leading his platoon against the enemy despite a torrent of incoming fire.
On 30th July Clr Sgt Harkess repeatedly exposed himself to fire to locate the enemy after being ambushed while protecting a re-supply mission near the town of Al Maymunah. He then engaged with the enemy and forced others to withdraw, which saved the convoy from great danger.
But modest Clr Sgt Harkess told Chad this week: “Going through my mind was simply carrying out the job — I don’t think anybody would have done it different.”
The former Garibaldi Comprehensive School pupil is currently based at Paderborn, Germany, as part of the 20th Armoured Brigade with his German wife Anita (31), but is looking forward to celebrating his achievement at home later this month.
Clr Sgt Harkess’ proud parents James and Dorothy, pictured, told Chad they could not wait to see their son.
Said Dorothy: “We are all so proud of James and hope to celebrate his achievement when he next comes home.
“He is very deserving of the bravery medal — although he insists that all of the men who were with him in Iraq are worthy of such an award.”
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