Highest Honours
Commander Stephen Higham was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his role as Commanding Officer of HMS Defender, a Type 45 destroyer, during her recent deployment to the Middle East as part of Operation Shader supporting international operations against Islamic State.
Commander Mark Vartan was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service as the Commanding Officer of HMS Enterprise, which has recently returned home to Plymouth after a three-year deployment sailing across the globe and saving thousands of lives at sea.
Major George Little and Major Lloyd Pritchard, Royal Marines, were made Members of the Order of the British Empire. Corporal Nicholas Jezeph was awarded the Military Cross, which is given in recognition of “an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land to all members, of any rank in Our Armed Forces.”
Marine Mark Wheeler was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery. Marine Wheeler was part of a detachment of Royal Marines on board the MV Vos Grace, a vessel chartered by the UK Border Force to assist with the mission to counter people trafficking in the Aegean Sea.
The full list, which recognises and honours service on operations, is given below.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Commander Stephen HIGHAM, Royal Navy (HMS Defender)
Commander Mark Richard VARTAN, Royal Navy (HMS Enterprise)
Member of the Order of the British Empire
Petty Officer Bethany Victoria Rauccio BURTON, Royal Navy
Major George John Robertson LITTLE, Royal Marines
Major Lloyd Benjamin PRITCHARD, Royal Marines
Military Cross
Acting Lance Corporal (now Corporal) Nicholas JEZEPH, Royal Marines
Mention in Despatches
Captain (now Major) Daniel Thomas EATON, Royal Marines,
Queen’s Commendation for Bravery
Marine Mark Andrew Charles WHEELER, Royal Marines
Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service
Colour Sergeant (now Acting Warrant Officer 2) Philip BARLOW, Royal Marines
Corporal Adam Paul CARTER, Royal Marines
Major James DUTTON, Royal Marines
Able Seaman (Seaman Specialist) Sarah Kirstie GRIFFITHS, Royal Navy
Commander Richard HUTCHINGS, Royal Navy (HMS St Albans)
Leading Seaman (now Petty Officer) Craig Tyrone JACOBS, Royal Navy
Corporal Edward Frank MAIN, Royal Marines
Major James Edward Dallas MORRIS, Royal Marines
Chief Petty Officer Peter Daniel MUIR, Royal Navy
Photo: Royal Navy HMS Astute – Submariners of HMS ASTUTE stand to attention during an inspection by the Commanding Officer, Stephen Walker, by Will Haigh (Crown Copyright, 2016).
