News story

Millies heroes honoured at awards

Last week, The Sun newspaper honoured courageous servicemen and women at their annual Military Awards. Here we feature two more winners.

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Jamie Oliver with Nikki Scott and children

Jamie Oliver with Nikki Scott and her Support to the Armed Forces Award

Support to the Armed Forces Award

Army widow Nikki Scott won the Support to the Armed Forces Award for her charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers. The charity supports the children of men and women killed while serving in the Armed Forces.

Nikki set up the charity in August 2010 after her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, was killed in Afghanistan in July 2009.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers aims to help as many children as possible up to the age of 18 by funding days out and paying for birthday and Christmas presents.

Nikki said:

Winning this is overwhelming but I’m very proud.

Jamie Oliver handed Nikki her award and hailed her ‘wonderful spirit’. He said:

It’s a sacrifice beyond most people made not just by one family but by many families. As a dad of four, it’s probably the hardest award I’ve ever given. You can’t change what’s happened but what Nikki has done is really important. I’m so impressed.

The Prime Minister and his wife with members of 3rd Battalion The Rifles

The Prime Minister and his wife with members of 3rd Battalion The Rifles and their Best Unit Award [Picture: The Sun newspaper]

Praising the Millies, the TV chef said:

It’s completely integral to pay our respects to the people that have done extraordinary things in extraordinary circumstances. There is not a job like it; we expect a lot and it’s really important that we give these guys a pat on the back and I think that’s what’s so brilliant about the Millies.

Best Unit Award

The highly coveted award for Best Unit went to 3rd Battalion The Rifles (3 RIFLES) for their work on Operation HERRICK. The unit were part of the Brigade Advisory Group mentoring the Afghan Army and Police. Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha presented the award to the unit, which is based in Edinburgh.

This summer, soldiers from 3 RIFLES took on the challenge of training the Afghan security forces. By building trust through shared dangers on the front line, they helped transform the capability of local forces. This approach was ably demonstrated on the day that Advisor 40 - a company of men that was part of 3 RIFLES - risked their lives to save a badly injured Afghan soldier.

On the day of their arrival to mentor Afghan troops in Lashkar Gah, a rogue Afghan soldier from the base next door shot 2 British servicemen at the gates. Refusing to be cowed, despite the obvious risks, this event showed the dedication of the soldiers to the task at hand.

Just 3 months later, 3 British troops raced over open ground under enemy fire to rescue an Afghan who had been shot, gave life-saving first aid, and then ran back, all under fire. This was just one example of the commitment and courage of the troops carrying out advisory roles in Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Class 1 (Regimental Sergeant Major) James Mockridge said:

The PM thanked us and said he was really pleased with our achievements in moving the Afghan National Army forward in the campaign. Hopefully it has put us in a better place than when we started.

Asked whether it was the cherry on the cake to have the Prime Minister hand over the award, WO1 Mockridge said:

Most definitely! For our unit, the honour doesn’t get much higher than the Prime Minister giving us an award. It’s not only fantastic for us but for all the Riflemen back in Edinburgh.

You can watch The Millies awards ceremony on ITV1 at 2100hrs on Friday 14 December.

Published 13 December 2012