News & Blog

George Cross Awarded

Posted on Fri, 24 March 2006 by Phil Mussell - General News, Medal News

The second George Cross of the Iraq war has been awarded to Captain Peter Allen Noerton, a bomb disposal expert who lost part of his arm and a leg in a bomb attack in the Al Bayaa district near Baghdad, which killed four and injured several others.

Despite being told about the threat of a secondary explosion, he instructed the coalition forces to stay in their vehicles and went forward to confirm whether a command wire was present. That secondary explosion did take place and caused extensive injuries to Captain Norton's arm and lower body

But as he lay injured he calmly instructed the others about which areas were safe and another bomb was discovered.

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Seddon, was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for making that device safe.

Norton, of the Royal Logistic's Corps is only the 22nd member of the armed services to receive the GC since it's inception in 1945; the majority of these having been earned in bomb disposal.

A full list of all the Operational Honours and Awards can be found on the MOD's websit:

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/OperationalHonoursAndAwardsList24March2006.htm