Heroes honoured for displaying true grit in Afghanistan

Acting Sergeant Dipprasad Pun exhausted all his ammunition and at one point had to use the tripod of his machine gun to beat away a militant climbing the walls of the compound.

The 31-year-old soldier fired more than 400 rounds, launched 17 grenades and detonated a mine to thwart the Taliban assault on his checkpoint near Babaji in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan.

He is awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.

Also to be honoured is Major Marcus James Mudd of the Queen’s Royal Lancers who will receive the Distinguished Service Order for his courage and leadership while in charge of an elite sub-unit of men operating in heart of fierce fighting.

The major, who is originally from Thirsk, led a team which operated for long periods beyond the security of bases and in close proximity to the enemy, often in scorching temperatures.

An Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “After each mission, he has scarcely paused before starting to plan the next, each requiring intense preparation, often at short notice.

“Mudd has planned with faultless precision, demonstrating a clear intellectual grasp of the principles of modern counter-insurgency. Mudd has consistently displayed leadership of the highest calibre under highly demanding operational circumstances.”

The accolades are awarded the day after soldiers in the 4th Mechanized Brigade, deployed to Task Force Helmand between April and October of last year, spoke of their pride after returning back to their base at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

The honours come after two British soldiers from 1st Battalion Irish Guards were killed in Afghanistan. Their families have been informed.