Sponsored by
Medals are key note in women's role with forces
Two Portsmouth women who swapped the office for the front line have won medals for service in Britain's war zones.
Lieutenant Mellissa Dawson won the operational award for service in Afghanistan, and Able Seaman Nicolle Ellis won hers for service in Iraq.
The members of Portsmouth's Royal Naval Reserve Unit, HMS King Alfred, were presented with the medals by Dame Mary Fagan, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.
At Saturday's ceremony at Whale Island, Portsmouth, more than 100 reservists paraded at the annual event.
Lt Dawson said being in Afghanistan had been 'amazing' while Ab Ellis said guarding Iraq's oil platforms had been a highlight.
Lt Dawson, 35, lives in Southsea and works for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in Portsmouth.
She spent six months in Afghanistan in 2005, helping to set up the joint Force HQ in Kandahar, and has just come back from Bahrain with the Ministry of Defence.
She said: 'Being in Afghanistan was amazing, especially meeting the local people. It is a beautiful country but it's sad to see how broken it is; it is such a shame that we can't fix it here and now.'
Ab Ellis, 31, lives in Emsworth and works for Selex SI Ltd in the human resources department.
She spent six months in Iraq and Bahrain with the fleet auxiliary ship RFA Cardigan Bay, responsible for communications with eight other ships while coalition forces trained Iraqi Marines.
She said: 'One of the most amazing experiences I had while I was there was to go out with the American coastguard whilst patrolling and guarding the oil platforms.'
Dame Mary Fagan told the women: 'You are now great ambassadors for both the Royal Navy and the reserve forces, playing a part serving in the theatre of war and being much valued.'
EXCELLENCE IN RESERVE
Among the 100-strong crowd at Saturday's ceremony were Portsmouth residents picking up the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal (VRSM).
THE VRSM is awarded for 10 years' continuous and exemplary service to the reserve forces, and was awarded to five people.
They included Lieutenant Commander Margaret Rickard, 51, from Portchester, Lieutenant Julie MacDonald, also from Portchester, and Petty Officer Jane Reynolds, 41, from Portsmouth.
For more about the Royal Naval Reserve call HMS King Alfred on (023) 9254 7459.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
