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Military and Defence Personnel Distinguished in 2024 New Year Honours for Exceptional Service

News of War Editor-in-Chief Casey Christie



Military and Defence Personnel Distinguished in 2024 New Year Honours for Exceptional Service


In a remarkable acknowledgement of dedication and excellence, His Majesty The King has honored over 180 service personnel and civil servants in the 2024 New Year Honours list. These individuals have been recognised for their exceptional service and contributions towards protecting national security.


This year's honours list is particularly noteworthy for its emphasis on diverse achievements across Defence, ranging from orchestrating His Majesty’s Coronation to managing some of the most intricate equipment programs. The accolades underscore the remarkable accomplishments of the honourees in various roles within Defence.


The Prime Minister has also extended his commendation, highlighting the valiant efforts of the Armed Forces in regions such as the Middle East and Estonia. This recognition underscores the UK's steadfast commitment to NATO and the remarkable contributions of the Armed Forces in these regions.


The full 2024 New Year Honours list, featuring the names of the Defence personnel, is now available for public viewing, offering a comprehensive look at the distinguished individuals and their contributions.


In addition to the personnel awards, several senior members of the Armed Forces have received state honours. These awards acknowledge their significant work in areas such as force integration, operational service, and driving pivotal organizational changes. Such changes are crucial for ensuring that Defence remains at the forefront, ready to leverage cutting-edge technologies.


Defence Secretary Grant Shapps expressed his profound congratulations to all Defence personnel named in this year's New Year Honours. He emphasized the increasing global dangers and the growing commitments of Defence globally. According to Shapps, the honourees have exemplified selflessness, resilience, and ingenuity, which are pivotal in these challenging times.


Shapps noted, "As the world becomes more dangerous and Defence’s global commitments have increased, you have all risen to the challenge through your selflessness, resilience, and ingenuity."


The Defence Secretary concluded his message by highlighting that the exceptional acts of service by these individuals epitomize the very best the nation has to offer. He affirmed that it is entirely fitting that such remarkable service and dedication are recognized and celebrated.

This year's New Year Honours list not only recognises individual achievements but also symbolises the collective effort and commitment of the UK's Defence personnel in maintaining national security and upholding global peace and stability.


A full list of the recipients:


Royal Navy Awards


Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most honourable order of the Bath


As Knight Commander


  • Lieutenant General Robert Andrew MAGOWAN, CB, CBE


As Companions


  • Rear Admiral Andrew BETTON, OBE

  • Rear Admiral James David MORLEY


Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most excellent order of the British Empire


As Commander


  • Commodore Stephen David ROBERTS


As Officers


  • Commander Trefor Morgan FOX

  • Commander Christopher Robert HOLLINGWORTH

  • Colonel Andrew Glenn David LOCK

  • Commander Lucy Jane OTTLEY

  • Commander Ian Hayden RICHARDSON

  • Commander Jamie Duncan WELLS

  • Captain Allan Thomas YOUP


As Members


  • Commander Steven ANDREWS

  • Lieutenant Commander Ross Donald BALFOUR

  • Leading Seaman (Diver) Rory Edward CARTWRIGHT-TAYLOR

  • Warrant Officer 1 James Adrian CUTHBERT

  • Warrant Officer 1 Engineering Technician (Communication and Information Systems) Steven GILBERTSON

  • Commander Martin John HOWARD

  • Lieutenant Commander Alexander Rowan MARSH

  • Commander Paul O’DOOLEY, Royal Naval Reserve

  • Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) Michael John STEPHENS

  • Lieutenant Sam David THOMPSON

  • Commander Roger Simon WYNESS


King’s Volunteer Reserves Medal


  • Warrant Officer 2 Michael RUDALL, Royal Marines Reserve


Army Awards


Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most honourable order of the Bath


As Dame Commander


  • Lieutenant General Sharon Patricia Moffat NESMITH


As Companions


  • Major General Kevin Mark COPSEY

  • Major General John Robert MEAD


Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most excellent order of the British Empire


As Commanders


  • Brigadier Vivienne Wendy BUCK

  • 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


  • 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


  • 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, Army Reserve

  • Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) Keith Michael Timothy BROOKS, VR, Royal Regiment of Artillery, Army Reserve

  • Captain Barry Lee BYRON, VR, General Service Corps, Army Reserve

  • 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, Army Reserve

  • Major Robert George FELLOWS, The Rifles

  • Major Toby Christian FOSTER, The Rifles

  • Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Simon GARRARD, Corps of Royal Engineers

  • 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, Army Reserve

  • Major Peter Anthony HARRISON, VR, The Royal Logistic Corps, Army Reserve

  • 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

  • Major Stacy Leanne OLIVER, Royal Army Medical Corps

  • Captain Pierre Andrew OZANNE, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment/The Ranger Regiment

  • Sergeant Daniel Adam POWDERHAM-BISSELL, Intelligence Corps

  • Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Sambrooke PROCTOR, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • Staff Sergeant Matthew Francis ROBINSON, Corps of Royal Engineers, Army Reserve

  • 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, Army Reserve

  • Major Francesca Louise SYKES, Royal Regiment of Artillery

  • 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


Royal Red Cross


As an Ordinary Associate of the Royal Red Cross, Second Class


  • 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, Army Reserve


King’s Volunteer Reserves Medal


  • Captain Carl GOYMER, VR, General List, Army Reserve

  • Major Adrian Thomas HUNT, DL, VR, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Army Reserve

  • Warrant Officer Class 1 Shane Julian MARRIOTT, VR, Army Air Corps, Army Reserve

  • Warrant Officer Class 2 Denis McKEE, VR, The Royal Irish Regiment, Army Reserve

  • Major Dawn Marie SAUNDERS, VR, Royal Corps of Signals, Army Reserve


Royal Air Force Awards


Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most honourable order of the Bath

As Companions


  • Air Vice-Marshal Nigel James COLMAN, OBE

  • Air Marshal Ian David GALE, MBE

Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most excellent order of the British Empire


As Commanders


  • Air Commodore Catherine Clare COTON

  • Air Commodore Jonathan MORETON

  • Air Commodore Gerard Alan OPIE

As Officers


  • Wing Commander Erica Jane FERGUSON

  • Wing Commander Matthew Elfed LEWIS

  • Wing Commander Stephen MCCLEERY

  • Wing Commander Alison MORTON

  • Air Commodore Patrick James SHEA-SIMONDS

  • Group Captain Paul Andrew WEAVER SMITH

  • Wing Commander Christopher Andrew WRIGHT, MBE

As Members


  • Master Aircrew Oliver Martin DEWEY

  • Sergeant (now Acting Flight Sergeant) George Joseph DOWNEY

  • Wing Commander Sam HALEY

  • Squadron Leader James Duncan HEMINGFIELD

  • Sergeant Martin John HENDERSON

  • Squadron Leader Sharon INGLE

  • Flight Sergeant (now Acting Warrant Officer) Stewart Marcus JACKSON

  • Flight Sergeant Philip KIPLING

  • Squadron Leader Kevin Charles William MARCH

  • Squadron Leader Christopher Scott MIDDLETON

  • Squadron Leader Mark SHIPLEY

  • Warrant Officer Garry John STANTON

  • Flying Officer (now Acting Wing Commander) Robert Charles TIMOTHY

King’s Volunteer Reserves Medal


  • Warrant Officer Michael Antony KENNEDY

  • Squadron Leader Jill PRITCHARD

  • Sergeant Joyce Mitchell SOUTAR

  • Warrant Officer Stephen David THOMPSON

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