An investiture ceremony will be held at Government House Wellington tomorrow (11am Tuesday 5 November 2013) to recognise the gallantry of two members of the New Zealand Defence Force.
Those to be honoured are the late Lance Corporal Leon Smith, of the 1 New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment, who will posthumously receive the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration, and Squadron Leader Ben Pryor, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, who will receive the New Zealand Gallantry Medal.
Lance Corporal Smith will be honoured for his actions when the NZSAS responded to an insurgent attack on the British Council compound in Kabul on 19 August 2011. During the attack, Lance Corporal Smith, at great risk to his own life, came to the aid of the mortally wounded Corporal Doug Grant, also of the NZSAS. Lance Corporal Smith was subsequently killed in action in Afghanistan on 28 September 2011. His decoration will be received by members of his family.
Squadron Leader Ben Pryor, now based in Ohakea, will be honoured for his actions as a helicopter pilot while seconded to the Royal Air Force in Afghanistan in 2012. On 22 April 2012, he was captain of the lead Chinook helicopter of an eight-ship aviation assault with the Special Forces Support Group. During the landing his aircraft came under intense enemy fire and despite his helicopter being hit three times, he managed to get his troops safely onto the ground. A month later, he conducted an emergency evacuation of a casualty who had suffered a traumatic gunshot wound to the neck. Despite his helicopter again coming under heavy enemy fire, he kept the aircraft on the ground until the medical team was able to get the casualty onto the aircraft.
More information about these awards can be found here: http://www.honours.govt.nz/node/1139
More information about gallantry awards can be found here: http://www.honours.govt.nz/honours/overview/gallantry
Media wishing to attend the ceremony must contact Antony Paltridge, Public Affairs Manager, Government House on 021 243 7958 before 9am on Tuesday 5 November.