An officer from Newton Abbot has been awarded a Mention in Despatches for his exemplary leadership and courage in southern Afghanistan.

Lieut James McCarthy, 28, of 1st Battalion, The Rifles, was promoted to acting captain to command an operational mentoring and liaison team alongside Afghan National Army soldiers in Helmand province.

From September 2008, he operated initially from an American patrol base near Musa Qaleh, which came under almost daily attack by rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun fire from several enemy positions.

Similarly, almost every patrol led by Lt McCarthy was attacked.

On many occasions he deliberately put himself at risk to ensure that only appropriate targets were identified and fired upon.

In early November, he led what the Army said was a dangerous advance through an area laced with improvised explosive devices as part of an operation to clear the village of Dagyan.

His team came under heavy enemy fire from three directions, all of which narrowly missed Lt McCarthy in his exposed position. His response was said to be 'exemplary'.

He placed his team in position and continued to call in fire support while being shot at himself.

He then launched an attack, leading his team in a close-quarter battle.

They eventually managed to seize and hold the enemy position without incurring casualties.

The award citation said: 'Given the previous enemy resistance this was remarkable; made possible to a great extent by McCarthy's skill, courage and judgement as he placed himself in danger, but from where he could influence events most effectively.'

Lt McCarthy said: 'While I'm really honoured by this award, I am surprised by it. My team and the Afghan National Army we were mentoring were exposed to this kind of incident on an almost daily basis.

'I would consider any one of them as equally deserving of recognition.'

Lt McCarthy's father served in the Devon & Dorset Regiment. His family live in Newton Abbot.