A SOLDIER from Dawlish has received an award for outstanding contribution to the effectiveness of the Army in an operational environment. Lance Cpl Michael Gardener, pictured, received the Sir Clive Martin Award at a ceremony in London from the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators last month. From October 2004 to April 2005 the Welsh Guards Battlegroup were deployed to Al Amarah in the Maysan province, close to the Iranian border in South Iraq. The region has been volatile ever since British forces were present. The previous unit, 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, fought and won a series of battles in and around Al Amarah. The fact that the Welsh Guards were able to complete its operational staff work and personnel administration in a secure environment owes much to the selfless commitment, foresight and planning ability of Cpl Gardener who deployed as part of the Welsh Guards' staff and personnel support detachment. Despite medical problems, he pushed hard to regain his fitness in order to deploy with the battalion. On arrival at Al Amarah he immediately assessed that secure document handling was a critical weakness and, without prompting, took on the task of resolving this. With minimal supervision he worked hard and for long hours to ensure the battalion was able to meet its operational requirements without the risk of breaches in security. Significantly, when the staff support assistant, a sergeant, was shot in the leg and evacuated, Cpl Gardener volunteered to take on this pressurised and vital role. 'Corporal Gardener has consistently exceeded the normal levels of work and initiative expected of a senior corporal,' said an Army spokesman. 'His efforts contributed significantly to the functioning of the battlegroup. For the seven months of the tour Cpl Gardener produced an outstanding performance in circumstances of adversity and was awarded a general officer commanding's commendation. 'His efforts set him apart from his peers.'
