A Scots Guardsman from Lancashire is to receive a Mention in Despatches for his courage under fire rescuing three injured soldiers whilst serving in Afghanistan.
Sergeant Anthony Gibson, 29, from Blackburn, was based at isolated checkpoint in the Babaji area of Helmand province for his six month tour of Afghanistan.
During this time the insurgents used everything at their disposal to drive the platoon of men away putting them under the constant pressure of rocket propelled grenades, machine gun and sniper fire.
During one of these attacks, despite the personal risks to himself, the former pupil of Witton Park High School went to the aid of women and children injured and killed in a roadside bomb attack near the base.
The civilian vehicle was caught up in an explosion and 16 men, women and small children were injured and shocked.
In spite of the risk of a secondary device, Anthony drove to the vehicle on a quad bike.
Anthony, who joined the army in 1998, said: "I left with three people on the quad bike and I kept going back for more."
The casualties were taken for medical treatment.
In a separate incident he put himself in extreme danger to evacuate three injured soldiers during a fire-fight, consistently leading by example in face of daily attacks and "horrendous carnage" perpetrated by insurgent fighters.
His citation states that he showed "exceptional leadership" by "personal example and moral and physical courage" in an area described as "hell".
The citation also notes that he had borne a "heavy burden - a burden so great it would have broken lesser men".
Anthony, who is engaged to Stacey Hobin and has a three-year-old daughter Alexis, added: "I am really made up. I am shocked at getting this recognition – I did what I did because it was my job."
The announcement was made on Friday with the release of the latest operational honours and awards list, which includes 136 personnel.
The awards are for actions roughly during the period April 1, 2010 to September 31 2010 ‘Operation HERRICK 12’.
The Mention in Despatches (MID) is the oldest form of recognition of gallantry within the UK Armed Forces.
Since 1993, it has been reserved for gallantry during active operations.
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