Ex Cadet Mentioned in Despatches

Ex Cadet, now Senior Aircraftman, Benjamin Alan Wharton is Mentioned in Despatches

Ben was a member of Martinique Detachment, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire & Rutland Army Cadet Force. He reached the rank of cadet sergeant before being appointed an Adult Instructor for a short time prior to joining the RAF. He joined the Royal Air Force in October 2003 and was posted to Number 1 Squadron in March 2004. Senior Aircraftman Wharton in currently on Support Weapons Flight and was a Heavy Machine Gunner and team medic throughout his tour in Iraq.

The Mention in Despatches is the oldest form of recognition of gallantry within the UK Armed Forces, and since 1993, it has been reserved for gallantry during active operations.

SAC Wharton's citation reads:

Following the rocket attack on the B Flight Accommodation on 19 July 2007, Senior Aircraftman Wharton was one of the first on the scene and helped many of his injured comrades to escape from the burning building, before using his combat medic skills to treat and reassure a number of his badly injured colleagues. On 7 August 2007, Wharton was the heavy machine-gunner on a WMIK (Weapon Mounted Installation Kit - a Land Rover chassis converted into a heavy weapons platform), and despite being struck in the chest and knocked off his vehicle by an enemy round, he remounted the vehicle and then continued to provide covering fire in an exposed and vulnerable position, for over an hour, so that an injured colleague could be rescued.

For his courage and determination in the face of the enemy, Senior Aircraftman Wharton has been Mentioned in Despatches.