Bravest of the brave honoured at Military Awards

Even Armed Forces animals were honoured in the award ceremony which took place at Hampton Court Palace in London on Tuesday 16 December 2008 to recognise excellence among our Armed Forces and supporting civilians.

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended the event, which has been dubbed 'The Millies', along with a host of other celebrities who handed out trophies to the winners.

Prince Charles came up with the idea for the Millies and, addressing the 400-strong audience, he said:

"This evening has given us the opportunity to meet the best of the best, the bravest of the brave," adding, "but please let us not forget that as I speak many members of our Armed Forces are far away from their families, working in austere, challenging and often dangerous environments. It is right that we have them at the forefront of our minds this evening and I offer my personal thanks and gratitude to them all."

Awards were presented in categories that recognised the bravery and professionalism of Service and civilian personnel working in today's Armed Forces around the world. They also celebrated members of the public who provide unstinting support to the military in various ways.

And at the climax to the ceremony, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall presented the Judges' Award for Special Recognition.

The joint winners were Christine Bonner, whose son Corporal Darren Bonner, aged 31, was killed in Afghanistan, and 600 members of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 Para) for their exceptional six-month deployment in Afghanistan this year.

The Duchess of Cornwall hugged Christine as she honoured her for raising thousands for Army charities and starting a heartbroken mums' support network.

Corporal Bonner was killed by a Taliban mine in May 2007. He was a signaller with the 1st Royal Anglian Battle Group. His mother Christine said:

"I want to keep Darren's memory alive and help his friends left behind. I hope the public are starting to understand the sacrifice British soldiers are making in Afghanistan, how many families are suffering and how hard it is. It was wonderful to see our servicemen and women get the recognition they deserve."

Triple amputee Lance Corporal Tom Neathway, aged 23, who lost his legs and left arm in a Taliban booby trap blast led 2 Para to the stage last night to a standing ovation. And as Prince Charles handed him the Millie trophy on behalf of his whole unit he hollered to the audience: "Yes! 2 Para!"

The other award winners were:

1. Best Recruit - Able Seaman (Diver) Jamie Campbell, HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, Cornwall.

2. Support to the Armed Forces - Bryn and Emma Parry, and Jeremy and Francie Clarkson - Help For Heroes, Hampshire.

3. Life Saver Award - Lance Corporal Jan Fourie, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, Colchester, Essex.

4. True Grit Individual - Captain Simon Cupples, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, Belfast.

5. True Grit Group - Royal Marine Armoured Support Group, Yeovilton, Somerset.

6. Best Armed Forces Animal - Treo, Arms Explosive Search Dog, 104 Military Working Dog Support Unit, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Rutland.

7. Most Outstanding Sailor or Marine - Leading Seaman (Diver) Lee Duffy, Northern Diving Group, Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde, Helensburgh.

8. Most Outstanding Soldier - Warrant Officer Class 2 Ian Farrell, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, London.

9. Most Outstanding Airman - Warrant Officer Jock MacFarlane, RAF Marham, Norfolk.

10. Overcoming Adversity - Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

11. Best Unit - The Chinook Force, RAF Odiham, Hampshire.

See Related Links >>> for the citations of the above award winners.

The winners of the first Millies were decided by a panel of famous forces' friends - top sports stars, celebrities and ex-military chiefs.

The ceremony was hosted by Tess Daly and celebrities who handed out the trophies included John Terry, Frank Lampard, Jeremy Clarkson, Al Murray and Bruce Forsyth.

Frank Lampard said:

"The word 'hero' is used quite loosely these days but these are the real heroes."

The best Armed Forces animal, Arms Explosive Search Dog Treo, was reunited at the awards ceremony with his Army dog handler Corporal Dave Heyhoe when the black Labrador was specially sprung from quarantine.

David and Victoria Beckham sent a recorded good luck message from Los Angeles to one of their biggest fans - double amputee Lance Bombadier Ben Parkinson, 24, who won the Overcoming Adversity Award.

And Princes William and Harry - away on military duties - also sent a special message to the winners of the Support to the Armed Forces award, the two couples Bryn and Emma Parry and Jeremy and Francie Clarkson.

The show was closed by X Factor winner Alexandra Burke with a heart-rending rendition of Hero, the charity single that has raised more than £1million for wounded troops.

And a minute's silence was held in memory of the fallen.

Military chiefs and Defence Ministers also attended the awards and Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, said:

"These awards are a unique opportunity to recognise and celebrate the sacrifices made by, and the dedication and courage of, our serving personnel, their families, and the people who support them."

Earlier in the day the nominees for the Millies were hosted by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah at 10 Downing Street. Mr Brown said to them:

"We want to thank you for the way you serve your country, for your professionalism and for your patriotism and for what you do for the whole of Britain.

"I think you are the best in the world. I have just been in Afghanistan and I have seen the bravery and courage that people have shown and I have seen the difference that you have made, and in Iraq I saw the same thing.

"Your professionalism is known in every part of the world. Your patriotism is something that we all appreciate.

"Tonight at Hampton Court we celebrate the courage and bravery of people from so many parts of our Armed Forces but you are very special because you have been singled out.

"You are the life and soul of the Armed Forces of this country. It is a privilege for us to be able to thank you for everything you do, individually and together, and for what you have achieved.

"I know many of you have suffered as a result of your service and sacrifice and I remember all those who have given their lives, and I remember those who have been injured. You are in our hearts and we are very proud of everything you do. The whole of the country thanks you and wishes you well."

The Awards were open to members of the Armed Forces and their civilian supporters, either on an individual or team basis, and shortlisted individuals and teams were chosen from more than 700 nominations, submitted by members of the public and the Armed Forces.

The Judge's Award for Special Recognition was awarded by the judging panel to two candidates who did not win in their category, but who the judges nonetheless felt were equally outstanding in their fields and deserved recognition.

The celebrity judging panel for the 2008 Sun Military Awards were: John Terry, Jeremy Clarkson, Dame Kelly Holmes, Andy McNab, Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Ross Kemp, Tom Newton Dunn, The Sun, Lord Guthrie, Sir Peter Squire, Lord West and General Sir Mike Jackson.

The ceremony, including unique footage of shortlisted individuals and teams on operations, plus reconstructions of the acts of heroism that were nominated, will be televised on Sky One at 2000 hrs on Thursday 18 December 2008.