Claire has been appointed awarded her MBE for services to defence and policing and in recognition of her work as the Defence Police Federation Welfare Officer.

Claire has been with our organisation since 1992 and in 2009 became a member of the Defence Police Federation, acting as the Welfare Officer.

Her contribution to the MDP through her role as a Constable and her engagement as a Welfare Officer has been of valuable assistance to the Force, as well as supporting colleagues at times of need following organisational change, bereavement or ill-health. She has thrown herself whole-heartedly into this work, forging a role which is now recognised as a valuable element of the MDP structure. In doing so, she has balanced the organisational need with her DPF position to ensure that both are appropriately represented.

T/Chief Constable Andy Adams comments:

I am sure that many people will want to congratulate Claire individually but, I offer her many congratulations on behalf of the force.

A total of 44 civilians have also been honoured either for their work in the MOD or in other aspects of Defence. The serving personnel named in the New Year Honours List for 2018 are listed below.

In honouring those who received honours this year, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“Our Armed Forces are the best in the world, and the men and women receiving honours today have gone above and beyond the call of duty in order to keep this country safe. Their diligence and dedication in the line of service has been unwavering and ensured that Britain remains ready as we face intensifying threats at home and abroad.”

ROYAL NAVY AWARDS

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH

As Knight Commander

Vice Admiral Simon Jonathan WOODCOCK, OBE

As Companions

Rear Admiral Keith Edward BLOUNT, OBE

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

As Commanders

Commodore Ross ALBON, OBE

Commodore Ian SHIPPERLEY, ADC

Rear Admiral Richard STOKES

Commodore Phillip James TITTERTON, OBE

As Officers

Commander Johanna DEAKIN

Commodore David Graham ELFORD, ADC

Captain Clayton Richard Allan FISHER,

Lieutenant Colonel Damian Jon HUNTINGFORD

Commander Peter John PIPKIN

Commander Philip Charles RICHARDSON

Captain Stephen John THOMPSON

As Members

Warrant Officer 1 (Communications Technician) David John BAGNALL

Major Kevin Charles CARTER, GM

Colour Sergeant Daniel Gad CURTIS

Major Edward Charles Malet HALL

Lieutenant Commander (now Commander) Richard Paul HEWITT

Commander John LEA

Lieutenant Commander David Francis MCINERNEY

Warrant Officer 1 (Seaman) Robert RATCLIFFE

Lieutenant Commander (Acting Commander) Stephen Eric SAYWELL-HALL

Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Manish TAYAL

Lieutenant Commander David Nicholas WILCOCKS

QUEEN’S VOLUNTEER RESERVE MEDAL

Corporal Timothy BYROM

ARMY AWARDS

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH

As Companions

Major General Angus Stuart James FAY

Acting Lieutenant General Ivan HOOPER

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

As Commanders

Brigadier Alastair James AITKEN, OBE

Acting Brigadier (now Brigadier) Barry William BENNETT, OBE

Brigadier Iain Graham HARRISON, OBE

Brigadier John Henry RIDGE

As Officers

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Richard BAKER, The Rifles

Colonel Nicholas Hugh De Renzy CHANNER, 3 Scots

Lieutenant Colonel Richard George HALLETT, The Royal Logistic Corps

Warrant Officer Class 1 Glenn John HAUGHTON, Grenadier Guards

Lieutenant Colonel Rachel Samantha HAWES, Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Reserve

Colonel Neill Allan PAGE

Lieutenant Colonel Rhodri David PHILLIP, Royal Army Medical Corps

Lieutenant Colonel Victoria Caroline REID, MBE, The Royal Logistic Corps

Colonel Michael Peter SYKES

Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey John WHATMOUGH, Royal Regiment of Artillery

As Members

Acting Lieutenant Colonel James BAIN, Combined Cadet Force

Major David Andrew BARRINGER, Corps of Army Music

Major Adam Christopher BIRLEY, Corps of Royal Engineers

Acting Corporal Thomas Oliver BRIGGS, Royal Corps of Signals

Captain Kevin KIRKHAM-BROWN, Royal Corps of Signals, Army Reserve

Captain (now Acting Major) Glen Paul BULLIVANT, Royal Army Medical Corps

Corporal (now Sergeant) Craig CARDY, Corps of Royal Engineers

Major Andrew John CARTER, Royal Regiment of Artillery

Major John Robert CHETTY, The Parachute Regiment

Staff Sergeant (now Sergeant) Louis John CLEARY, Royal Corps of Signals, (now Army Reserve)

Major Barry James COOKE, Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)

Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) Oliver Philip Butler DOBSON, The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Captain Martin Geoffrey DOHERTY, Royal Regiment of Artillery

Warrant Officer Class 1 George Richard DOUGLAS, The Royal Irish Regiment, Army Reserve

Warrant Officer Class 1 Roy Paul DUFFIN, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Army Reserve

Major Damian John FLANAGAN, The Rifles

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Michael GARBUTT, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Lieutenant Colonel Timothy John GILLIES, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Major Paul Dennis HEADINGTON, The Parachute Regiment

Staff Sergeant David Mark JONES, Intelligence Corps

Sergeant Christopher Robert JORDAN, The Parachute Regiment

Major (now Lieutenant Colonel) Edwyn Nicholas LAUNDERS, Welsh Guards

Staff Sergeant (now Warrant Officer Class 2) Adrienne Richelle LAVERY, Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)

Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) James Douglas Louther LEASK, Scots Guards

Warrant Officer Class 1 John Richard LEWIS, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Lieutenant Colonel Lorraine Elizabeth MARKHAM, Intelligence Corps

Warrant Officer Class 2 Neil McRae MARTIN, The Royal Logistic Corps, Army Reserve

Warrant Officer Class 2 Todd William McCARTNEY, Intelligence Corps

Sergeant (now Staff Sergeant) Matthew Robert McGLOWN, Royal Corps of Signals

Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) Andrew Thomas George McLANNAHAN, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment

Captain Timothy Shanti HOLMES-MITRA, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, (now General Service Corps Army Reserve)

Lieutenant Colonel Paula Janet NICHOLAS, Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)

Major (now Acting Lieutenant Colonel) Thomas Michael PARSONS, Scots Guards

Captain Simon Colin PATERSON, Intelligence Corps

Major Richard William ROBERTS, Corps of Royal Engineers

Major Bijayant SHERCHAN, The Royal Gurkha Rifles

Major John Patrick TYMON, Army Air Corps

Captain (now Acting Major) Grant WALLACE, Royal Corps of Signals

Major Aaron John WEST, The Rifles

ROYAL RED CROSS

As an Ordinary Associate of the Royal Red Cross, First Class

Lieutenant Colonel Simon DAVIES, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, Army Reserve

QUEEN’S VOLUNTEER RESERVES MEDAL

Warrant Officer Class 2 Peter Lewis GLIWITZKI, The Mercian Regiment, Army Reserve

Warrant Officer Class 1 Nigel Christian MARSHALL, Corps of Royal Engineers, Army Reserve

Sergeant Alan RAINEY, The Royal Logistic Corps, Army Reserve

Warrant Officer Class 2 Steven SINGLETON, The Parachute Regiment, Army Reserve

ROYAL AIR FORCE AWARDS

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH

As Companions

Air Vice-Marshal The Honourable Richard John Martin BROADBRIDGE, QHS

Air Vice-Marshal (The Venerable) Jonathan Paul Michael CHAFFEY, QHC

PROMOTIONS IN AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

As Commanders

Group Captain Richard DAVIES

Air Commodore Alan Kenneth GILLESPIE

Group Captain (now Air Commodore) Michael John SMEATH, MBE

As Officers

Group Captain Andrew Edgar BATTYE

Wing Commander Sean DONOGHUE

Wing Commander Darryn George RAWLINS

Group Captain Roland Stephen SMITH

As Members

Wing Commander Edward CHALLONER, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve (Training)

Wing Commander John Howard DAVIES

Flight Sergeant Alison Frances FISHER

Squadron Leader Martin GERAGHTY

Corporal Liam Paul GRIME

Warrant Officer Alan Stuart HART

Squadron Leader Scott Smith MACCOLL

Squadron Leader Thomas Martin MCMORROW, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve (Training)

Sergeant (now Flight Sergeant) Louise Mary MULLEN

Corporal Anthony MULLER

Squadron Leader James Andrew SCHOFIELD

Warrant Officer Robert Ernest WEAVING

QUEEN’S VOLUNTEER RESERVES MEDAL

Warrant Officer Shobha EARL, Royal Auxiliary Air Force,

Squadron Leader (now Flight Lieutenant) Norman McKay GRAY, Royal Auxiliary
Air Force

Gavin Williamson said the UK personnel working in Poland as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) deployment reflected Britain’s global outlook, unconditional commitment to collective Euro-Atlantic security and further highlighted NATO as the cornerstone of UK defence. These UK personnel are part of the US-led eFP battlegroup in Poland, while the UK continues to lead our own eFP battlegroup in Estonia.

The Defence Secretary travelled to Poland with the Prime Minister and other Cabinet members to sign a Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty at the Inter-Governmental Consultations in Warsaw, deepening the close UK-Polish relationship.

He then travelled on to Orzysz, also in Poland, meeting around 150 UK personnel from the Light Dragoon’s, who have been working closely with forces from the US, Poland, Romania and Croatia.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

We live in a world where the threats and dangers we face are constant, evolving and increasingly challenging. We have to be highly professional and deeply committed to counter the intensifying aggression aimed at Britain and our allies.

That is why I’m so grateful to our brave men and women in the Armed Forces, working around the clock to keep us safe while so many of us spend time with friends and family over the Christmas period.

The United Kingdom will always play a global and leading role in major alliances such as NATO. I’m proud to have met our inspirational personnel here in Poland making such an important difference alongside key friends and partners like Poland and the United States.

The Light Cavalry Squadron, who will be deployed over the festive season, are supporting Polish forces to enhance NATO’s deterrence posture, while benefiting from training alongside US and Romanian allies, building a strong multi-national battlegroup.

Colonel Giles Harris DSO MBE, Commander CABRIT, said:

As we celebrate Christmas and New Year’s, I hope everyone deployed on OP CABRIT in Estonia and Poland can reflect on how much has been achieved this year in support of NATO and our partners.

Their efforts and commitment have been outstanding and I am extremely grateful for all they, and those back in the UK, have done in support of the mission. The positive impact of our presence here should not underestimated.

I would also like to thank the families and friends at home too – as ever, they are hugely important in our success. So from all of us deployed on operations in the Baltic states and Poland, we wish you a happy Christmas and New Year.

While in Poland he also praised thousands of Armed Forces personnel working in many other operations around the globe over the Christmas period. More widely, more than 5,000 sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines will be working over the festive period, involved in 25 operations in more than 30 countries ranging from Iraq to the South Atlantic.

As well as around 150 UK personnel working in Poland around 800 British personnel are deployed on the UK led eFP deployment in Estonia. Further afield, currently around 1,000 people are working to fight Daesh and train the local security forces from locations in Iraq and the wider Middle East as well as from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. In the Caribbean, RFA Mounts Bay joins other Royal Navy warships also deployed over the festive period.

UK Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Roddy Dennis, based in the Middle East alongside NATO allies, had this message for everyone at home in the UK and across the globe:

On behalf of all the personnel from 83 EAG currently deployed on Op SHADER and Op KIPION in the Middle East, I would like to send season’s greetings to everyone in the UK and abroad. Even though we are away from our homes, families and friends this festive season, we will all be celebrating Christmas in traditional Armed Forces’ fashion together with personnel from across the Coalition.

I would like to thank everyone under my command for their service and everyone at home for the support they continue to give us, our mission would be impossible without it. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

Since 1969 the UK has had a submarine on patrol for every minute of every day, providing the UK’s nuclear deterrent and this Christmas is no different.

In the South Atlantic, over 1000 personnel are stationed in the Falkland Islands. In Afghanistan, troops from the Army and other Services are training Afghan National Security Forces.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has met with Canada’s Minister of National Defence, Harjit Sajjan, to further strengthen the historic relationship between the UK and Canada.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

The UK and Canada have enjoyed a close-knit relationship for more than a century and we we have further reinforced this bond, discussing the wide range of issues we face today.

At a time when our nations battle intensifying threats on numerous fronts, we must continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Canada and all of our allies, to ensure the safety of our people.

The two nations have maintained a close alliance on a wide range of security issues for decades, and are uniquely linked. Both are members of G7, the Five Eyes Intelligence Community, NATO and the Commonwealth.

At the forefront of this bond is the posting of UK troops at British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS), in Canada, which will celebrate 50 years of operation in 2021.

Both countries have also expressed a desire to further reinforce their commitments to international diplomacy, and co-hosted the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in Vancouver last month.

The UK Defence Secretary also praised Canada for tripling its training effort in the fight against Daesh, as well as increasing their surveillance and intelligence in support of the counter-Daesh coalition, which both countries are key members of.

Along with the Netherlands and France, the UK and Canada also worked together to form the Multinational Caribbean Co-ordination Cell during Operation Ruman, providing aid to those caught up in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in September.

The second ship fitted with Sea Ceptor has also conducted a successful firing to verify the weapon system upgrade.

The new missile defence system will provide UK personnel with a powerful shield against airborne targets – including hostile combat jets and helicopters, as well enemy missiles travelling at supersonic speeds.

The completion of the firing trials from Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll means Sea Ceptor can proceed to the next stage of the acceptance into service with the Royal Navy.

Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin said:

In the face of intensifying global threats, cutting-edge systems like Sea Ceptor will keep the UK safe. These successful trials from HMS Argyll mark a major milestone towards the introduction of this world-class missile system into service for the Royal Navy.

Work to develop and install Sea Ceptor across the Royal Navy is also boosting British industry, supporting 600 jobs in the Bristol, Stevenage and Bolton areas.

The first firings of Sea Ceptor were conducted from HMS Argyll at the Hebrides range off the coast of Scotland and involved firing the system to assess its performance against a range of scenarios.

Two sets of trials were conducted by Defence, Equipment and Support (DE&S) and supported by a number of other organisations, lasting around two weeks each.

During the firings the system was first tested against single aerial targets. This was followed by more demanding tests, including a single target engaged by two missiles and a twin firing (two targets, each engaged by a single missile at the same time).

An installation test firing from HMS Westminster – the second ship fitted with Sea Ceptor – took place in November, with each of the Type 23 ships due to carry out installation test firings in due course.

Lieutenant Nick Andrews, HMS Westminster’s Anti-Air-Warfare Officer, said:

HMS Westminster managed to explore the real potential of the system during her training and to say it is a real game changer is an understatement. Unlike its predecessor, the system is capable of defending ships other than Westminster herself. Whether it’s engaging multiple air threats or fast incoming attack craft, Sea Ceptor represents a massive capability upgrade for the Type 23 frigate.

Designed and manufactured by MBDA in the UK, Sea Ceptor is being fitted to replace the Sea Wolf weapon system on the Type 23 frigates and will provide the same capability for the Royal Navy’s future Type 26 Frigates.

Sea Ceptor defends escort vessels within a maritime task group, such as for the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, and with HMS Argyll due to deploy to Japan next year, the trials successfully showcased the short range capabilities of the new defence system. Another Type 23, HMS Sutherland, is due to deploy to Australia in the New Year.

The system uses a new UK-developed missile, the Common Anti-air Modular Missile or CAMM, that is capable of reaching speeds of up to three times the speed of sound, and will have the ability to deal with multiple targets simultaneously, protecting an area of around 500 square miles (1,300 square kilometres) over land or sea.

Sea Ceptor supports around 600 MBDA jobs and its supply chain in key locations across the UK such as Bristol, Stevenage and Bolton.

Richard Smart, Director Weapons, for the MOD’s procurement organisation Defence Equipment and Support, which is based at MOD Abbey Wood in Bristol, said:

These trials are a significant step in getting the Sea Ceptor weapon system to acceptance and a great example of how important live trials are in helping us to understand a new military capability before using it in operational service. The success of the trials is testimony to the hard work put in by the DE&S project team and the working relationship they have with industry.

The results of the firings are now going through extensive analysis; our assessment so far is positive and shows how Sea Ceptor is capable of protecting both the ship which fired it and other ships in its task group, which could include the UK’s two new Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers.