By Kevin Hegarty, 42 Bde

A Preston-based soldier’s heroics in saving the life of an Iraqi man while a fierce gunfight took place around him has been recognised in the latest operational honours list.

Combat medical technician Corporal (Cpl) Stuart Henderson, 26, is “Mentioned in Despatches”.

He is among over 100 UK Service personnel included in the latest operational honours list, recognising heroic actions and dedication in operations around the world – including in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Liberia, the Congo and Sierra Leone.

Cpl Henderson, who serves as a combat medical technician and section corporal of an ambulance troop with 5 General Support Medical Regiment, based at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, Lancashire, said: “My family and friends are all very proud of me. It is a great honour and has come as a shock. To me it was just another call out and I was just doing my job. Everyone in my team deserves this as much as I do.”

Cpl Henderson, a former pupil of Bebington High School, is the son of Ron and Karen Henderson, of Bebington, Wirral, brother of 21-year-old Sarah, and fiancé of Emily.

At about 2200hrs on 30 th January 2005, while 5 GS Med Regt was serving a six-month tour at Shaibah, in southern Iraq, Cpl Henderson’s team was called to assist a United States convoy that had been ambushed, with reports of casualties at the scene.

Cpl Henderson said: “When we got there, the area seemed secure and I started treating an Iraqi man who we thought had been shot in the chest during the ambush. I was treating him when I heard a crack and a thump of a bullet going over my head.

“Then we saw dust clouds rising from the road as bullets hit the ground around us. The first thing that entered my head was that I had promised my girlfriend I would keep my head down and I thought: ‘Emily is going to kill me!’ We carried out our drills and returned fire. The infantry provided covering fire and I dragged the casualty to safety.

“Once I had reassessed the casualty it appeared that he had a collapsed lung and needed urgent surgery. The infantry wanted us to stay down to wait for armoured vehicles to arrive and there was no way to get a helicopter in to evacuate the casualty. I told them that if we waited any longer the casualty would die. I decided to go off-road and drive cross-country. We eventually managed to get the casualty back to the hospital where surgeons gave him further care. He made a full recovery.”

Secretary of State for Defence, John Reid, said: “I am delighted that Her Majesty has seen fit to mark the outstanding gallantry, professionalism and commitment of so many Service personnel operating in difficult and challenging environments. I am immensely proud of their achievements and congratulate them all.”