Richard Kemp
Encyclopedia
Colonel Richard Justin Kemp CBE (born 14 April 1959) served in the British Army from 1977 to 2005. He was Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, an infantry battalion Commanding Officer, worked for the Joint Intelligence Committee and COBR
and completed 14 operational tours of duty around the globe.
After retiring from the army, Kemp turned to writing. His first book, Attack State Red is an account of the 2007 campaign undertaken by the Royal Anglian Regiment
, documenting their initial deployment and trials in Afghanistan. Attack State Red was listed as a bestseller in the Sunday Times, two weeks after initial release.
. He then served as a soldier and officer in the Royal Anglian Regiment
from 1977 to 2007. He started his training as an infantry soldier in 1977 at Bassingbourn Barracks, Cambridgeshire
. The following year he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
and was commissioned as second lieutenant
on the General List on 5 August 1978. He was posted back to the Royal Anglian Regiment on 3 March 1979, his first regimental appointment was as a platoon commander with the 3rd Battalion
, based in Palace Barracks, Belfast
. After leaving Belfast he subsequently saw service around the world, including Germany, Kenya and Cyprus. Throughout his military career Kemp completed seven tours on Operation Banner
in Northern Ireland, including West Belfast, South Armagh, Derry City and County Londonderry; and a Spearhead tour to Armagh. He was promoted lieutenant
on 5 August 1980, and captain
on 5 August 1985. He later became an instructor at Bassingbourn before a posting to the 2nd Battalion as the second in charge (2IC) of a Company, Milan Platoon Commander, and then Battle Group Operations Officer, serving across the world including a tour as part of UNFICYP in Cyprus.
Kemp spent much of his early career working in mechanized and armoured infantry, including command of a Warrior company and command of the Armoured Infantry Training and Advisory Team covering British military units in Germany and the UK. He wrote the military operations manual, 'Armoured Infantry Company Group Tactics', which remains in use today forming a part of British Military doctrine
.
As a captain in the Royal Anglian Regiment he took part in the first Gulf War
, in 1990–91, commanding Brigadier Patrick Cordingley's 7th Armoured Brigade Tactical Headquarters. He was promoted major on 30 September 1991. In the late 1990s, he devised a new system for training Warrior AFV crews in gunnery combined with tactical movement, utilising standard armour ranges. The system was a development of US armoured infantry training techniques, and was subsequently adopted by elements of the Royal Armoured Corps
.
Following tours with the headquarters of the 7th Armoured Brigade
, at Camberley Staff College and in Headquarters Northern Ireland, he returned to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment as Point Company Commander, leading the company in Bosnia, Germany and Canada. In Bosnia, he served on operations with the United Nations (UNPROFOR). He then took over the Armoured Infantry Training and Advisory Team based at Hohne
and Sennelager
, and held a staff appointment in the Ministry of Defence
. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 30 June 1997, and commanded the 1st Battalion
, Royal Anglian Regiment in Oakington and Londonderry from 1998 to 2000. After this command, he was appointed Commander of the Operational Training and Advisory Group and then spent six months as Counter Terrorism and Security Advisor to the Government of Macedonia
.
from 2001–2006, with a six month posting to Afghanistan in 2003. At the Cabinet Office he worked for the Joint Intelligence Committee
and the national crisis management group, COBR, during the period of the 2005 London bombings and a series of high profile kidnappings of British nationals in Iraq and Afghanistan. While working at the Cabinet Office his responsibilities included Iraq, and he made several visits to Baghdad, Fallujah and Mosul. He was involved in devising and developing government strategies and policies on counter terrorism. He was promoted colonel on 30 June 2004, and retired from the army on 30 March 2006.
Kemp was Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan in 2003. He was responsible for all British forces deployed in Afghanistan, including a patrols unit operating under ISAF in Kabul, a training group working within the US-led Afghan National Army training mission, and a Provincial Reconstruction Team based at Mazar e-Sharif. During his tenure he also acted as Military Attache, working closely with the British Ambassador to Afghanistan and with the US Task Force Commander at Bagram and the UN Secretary General's Special Representative.
Kemp set up and led an ad hoc joint counter-terrorist operations group comprising forces from the US Marine Corps 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Antiterrorism) and the British Army, which achieved a number of successes against Al Qaeda-associated extremists in Kabul. While Commander in Afghanistan, he devised a doctrine for combating suicide attack
, which did not previously exist in the British forces. That doctrine was subsequently taken into general use in the armed forces, promulgated by the Permanent Joint Headquarters
.
. The campaign gained the support of the majority of Members of Parliament, through an Early Day Motion
in the 2008–2009 parliamentary session; as well as widespread support among serving and retired military ranging from Private Harry Patch
, last survivor of the Battle of Passchendaele to Field Marshal Sir Edwin Bramall, former Chief of Defence Staff.
The campaign also prompted specific debates in the House of Commons and the House of Lords
, and led to the MOD announcement in 2008 of a new award to be made to the next of kin of British soldiers killed in action, which was launched in July 2009. The award, called the Elizabeth Cross
, is the first decoration to be named after a reigning monarch since the institution of the George Cross in 1941. The award was back-dated to the end of the Second World War. The Government has so far rejected calls for a new medal.
engaged in war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza War in December 2008 to January 2009. Kemp did not visit Gaza, but based his assessment on publicly available information from both sides, from press reports, as well as from his 30-year experience as a participant in the war on terror
.
In June 2009, Kemp wrote a document entitled "HAMAS, THE GAZA WAR AND ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW" for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
. In the article, Kemp writes that Hamas discarded their uniform once fighting began and deployed women and children as suicide attackers. Kemp also states that during the Gaza War "women and children are trained and equipped to fight, collect intelligence and ferry arms and ammunition between battles".
In October 2009, Kemp made a presentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council
in response to the introduction of the Goldstone report that accuses Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the Gaza War. Kemp spoke to the UN HRC on behalf of UN Watch
. While Kemp acknowledges that "of course innocent civilians were killed. War is chaos and full of mistakes. There have been mistakes by the British, American and other forces in Afghanistan and in Iraq, many of which can be put down to human error. But mistakes are not war crimes.", Kemp states the following: "based on my knowledge and experience, I can say this: during operation Cast Lead, the Israeli Defense Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in the combat zones than any other army in the history of warfare".
Kemp has also claimed to have relied on Israeli expertise in Afghanistan, stating that he received help from an Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) anti-suicide bombing expert. He also claimed to have received help from the Mossad
, Israel's intelligence agency, following the 2005 London bombings, and is well-acquainted with Israeli intelligence from past cooperation. Kemp has been highly critical of what he calls "the automatic assumption that everything the IDF does is illegal", stating that "there is harsh criticism against the US and British armies as well, but they are given the benefit of the doubt. Israel is always automatically condemned, no matter what. It's a joke. Even the conspiracy theory that the one responsible for the September 11 attacks is not al-Qaeda
but Israel refuses to die out, it's unbelievable".
in Helmand Province
, Afghanistan
, in 2007 as a part of Operation Herrick
. The title of the book comes from the British military standing operating procedures (SOPs) for attacking compounds and buildings in Afghanistan. Kemp wrote the book with Chris Hughes, a journalist with the Daily Mirror. The book seeks to place the civilian reader into the boots of the fighting soldier. It has been written with the intention of providing an insight into what it is like to confront an enemy in harsh battle conditions. The book was published in September 2009 by Penguin Books
.
for service as a commander in the United Nations Protection Force
in Bosnia in 1994. He was promoted Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Military Division, in the New Year Honours 2006
. In addition, he is a member of the International Advisory Board of NGO Monitor
and of the Board of Advancing Human Rights (NGO).
Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms
Cabinet Office Briefing Room is a term used to describe the formation of a crisis response committee, coordinating the actions of bodies within the government of the United Kingdom in response to instances of national or regional crisis, or during events abroad with major implications for the UK...
and completed 14 operational tours of duty around the globe.
After retiring from the army, Kemp turned to writing. His first book, Attack State Red is an account of the 2007 campaign undertaken by the Royal Anglian Regiment
Royal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on 1 September 1964 as the first of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the East Anglian Brigade.* 1st Battalion from the...
, documenting their initial deployment and trials in Afghanistan. Attack State Red was listed as a bestseller in the Sunday Times, two weeks after initial release.
Early life and military career
Kemp was educated at Colchester Royal Grammar SchoolColchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester Royal Grammar School is a grammar school in Colchester, Essex, founded in AD 1206 and granted two Royal Charters by Henry VIII and by Elizabeth I .-Admissions:...
. He then served as a soldier and officer in the Royal Anglian Regiment
Royal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on 1 September 1964 as the first of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the East Anglian Brigade.* 1st Battalion from the...
from 1977 to 2007. He started his training as an infantry soldier in 1977 at Bassingbourn Barracks, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
. The following year he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
and was commissioned as second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on the General List on 5 August 1978. He was posted back to the Royal Anglian Regiment on 3 March 1979, his first regimental appointment was as a platoon commander with the 3rd Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, based in Palace Barracks, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. After leaving Belfast he subsequently saw service around the world, including Germany, Kenya and Cyprus. Throughout his military career Kemp completed seven tours on Operation Banner
Operation Banner
Operation Banner was the operational name for the British Armed Forces' operation in Northern Ireland from August 1969 to July 2007. It was initially deployed at the request of the Unionist government of Northern Ireland to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary . After the 1998 Belfast Agreement,...
in Northern Ireland, including West Belfast, South Armagh, Derry City and County Londonderry; and a Spearhead tour to Armagh. He was promoted lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 5 August 1980, and captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 5 August 1985. He later became an instructor at Bassingbourn before a posting to the 2nd Battalion as the second in charge (2IC) of a Company, Milan Platoon Commander, and then Battle Group Operations Officer, serving across the world including a tour as part of UNFICYP in Cyprus.
Kemp spent much of his early career working in mechanized and armoured infantry, including command of a Warrior company and command of the Armoured Infantry Training and Advisory Team covering British military units in Germany and the UK. He wrote the military operations manual, 'Armoured Infantry Company Group Tactics', which remains in use today forming a part of British Military doctrine
Military doctrine
Military doctrine is the concise expression of how military forces contribute to campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements.It is a guide to action, not hard and fast rules. Doctrine provides a common frame of reference across the military...
.
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, in 1990–91, commanding Brigadier Patrick Cordingley's 7th Armoured Brigade Tactical Headquarters. He was promoted major on 30 September 1991. In the late 1990s, he devised a new system for training Warrior AFV crews in gunnery combined with tactical movement, utilising standard armour ranges. The system was a development of US armoured infantry training techniques, and was subsequently adopted by elements of the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
.
Following tours with the headquarters of the 7th Armoured Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
The 7th Armoured Brigade or 7th Armored Brigade may refer to any of a number of military units:*7th Armoured Brigade *7th Armoured Brigade *7th Armoured Brigade...
, at Camberley Staff College and in Headquarters Northern Ireland, he returned to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment as Point Company Commander, leading the company in Bosnia, Germany and Canada. In Bosnia, he served on operations with the United Nations (UNPROFOR). He then took over the Armoured Infantry Training and Advisory Team based at Hohne
Hohne
Hohne is a municipality in the state of Lower Saxony in Germany, east of the county town of Celle. It includes the three former parishes of Hohne, Helmerkamp and Spechtshorn...
and Sennelager
Sennelager
Sennelager is a village in Germany that forms part of the City of Paderborn. It is notable by the presence of a British army barracks, where the 20th Armoured Brigade are currently situated...
, and held a staff appointment in the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 30 June 1997, and commanded the 1st Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, Royal Anglian Regiment in Oakington and Londonderry from 1998 to 2000. After this command, he was appointed Commander of the Operational Training and Advisory Group and then spent six months as Counter Terrorism and Security Advisor to the Government of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
.
Cabinet Office
Kemp was attached to the Cabinet OfficeCabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
from 2001–2006, with a six month posting to Afghanistan in 2003. At the Cabinet Office he worked for the Joint Intelligence Committee
Joint Intelligence Committee
The Joint Intelligence Committee is a nodal government agency in several countries, responsible for the internal and external security apparatus of the respective nations.* Joint Intelligence Committee * Joint Intelligence Committee...
and the national crisis management group, COBR, during the period of the 2005 London bombings and a series of high profile kidnappings of British nationals in Iraq and Afghanistan. While working at the Cabinet Office his responsibilities included Iraq, and he made several visits to Baghdad, Fallujah and Mosul. He was involved in devising and developing government strategies and policies on counter terrorism. He was promoted colonel on 30 June 2004, and retired from the army on 30 March 2006.
Afghanistan
Kemp set up and led an ad hoc joint counter-terrorist operations group comprising forces from the US Marine Corps 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Antiterrorism) and the British Army, which achieved a number of successes against Al Qaeda-associated extremists in Kabul. While Commander in Afghanistan, he devised a doctrine for combating suicide attack
Suicide attack
A suicide attack is a type of attack in which the attacker expects or intends to die in the process.- Historical :...
, which did not previously exist in the British forces. That doctrine was subsequently taken into general use in the armed forces, promulgated by the Permanent Joint Headquarters
Permanent Joint Headquarters
The Permanent Joint Headquarters is the British tri-service headquarters from where all overseas military operations are planned and controlled. It is situated at Northwood Headquarters in Northwood, London....
.
Political campaigns
Richard Kemp led a campaign in 2007 and 2008 to recognise the sacrifice of British troops killed and wounded in action by the award of a medal similar to the US Purple HeartPurple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. The campaign gained the support of the majority of Members of Parliament, through an Early Day Motion
Early day motion
An Early Day Motion , in the Westminster system, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence, tabled by Members of Parliament for debate "on an early day" . Controversial EDMs are not signed by Government Ministers, PPS or the Speaker of the House of Commons and very few are debated on the floor...
in the 2008–2009 parliamentary session; as well as widespread support among serving and retired military ranging from Private Harry Patch
Harry Patch
Henry John "Harry" Patch , known in his latter years as "the Last Fighting Tommy", was a British supercentenarian, briefly the oldest man in Europe, and the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the First World War...
, last survivor of the Battle of Passchendaele to Field Marshal Sir Edwin Bramall, former Chief of Defence Staff.
The campaign also prompted specific debates in the House of Commons and the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, and led to the MOD announcement in 2008 of a new award to be made to the next of kin of British soldiers killed in action, which was launched in July 2009. The award, called the Elizabeth Cross
Elizabeth Cross
The Elizabeth Cross is a commemorative emblem given to the recognised next of kin of members of the British Armed Forces killed in action or as a result of a terrorist attack after the Second World War...
, is the first decoration to be named after a reigning monarch since the institution of the George Cross in 1941. The award was back-dated to the end of the Second World War. The Government has so far rejected calls for a new medal.
Testimony on the Gaza War
Kemp has disputed allegations that IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
engaged in war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza War in December 2008 to January 2009. Kemp did not visit Gaza, but based his assessment on publicly available information from both sides, from press reports, as well as from his 30-year experience as a participant in the war on terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
.
In June 2009, Kemp wrote a document entitled "HAMAS, THE GAZA WAR AND ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW" for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs is a public policy think tank devoted to research and analysis of critical issues facing the Middle East. The center is located in Jerusalem, Israel...
. In the article, Kemp writes that Hamas discarded their uniform once fighting began and deployed women and children as suicide attackers. Kemp also states that during the Gaza War "women and children are trained and equipped to fight, collect intelligence and ferry arms and ammunition between battles".
In October 2009, Kemp made a presentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly...
in response to the introduction of the Goldstone report that accuses Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the Gaza War. Kemp spoke to the UN HRC on behalf of UN Watch
UN Watch
UN Watch is a Geneva-based NGO whose stated mission is "to monitor the performance of the United Nations by the yardstick of its own Charter". It is an accredited NGO in Special Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council and an Associate NGO to the UN Department of Public Information...
. While Kemp acknowledges that "of course innocent civilians were killed. War is chaos and full of mistakes. There have been mistakes by the British, American and other forces in Afghanistan and in Iraq, many of which can be put down to human error. But mistakes are not war crimes.", Kemp states the following: "based on my knowledge and experience, I can say this: during operation Cast Lead, the Israeli Defense Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in the combat zones than any other army in the history of warfare".
Kemp has also claimed to have relied on Israeli expertise in Afghanistan, stating that he received help from an Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF) anti-suicide bombing expert. He also claimed to have received help from the Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
, Israel's intelligence agency, following the 2005 London bombings, and is well-acquainted with Israeli intelligence from past cooperation. Kemp has been highly critical of what he calls "the automatic assumption that everything the IDF does is illegal", stating that "there is harsh criticism against the US and British armies as well, but they are given the benefit of the doubt. Israel is always automatically condemned, no matter what. It's a joke. Even the conspiracy theory that the one responsible for the September 11 attacks is not al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
but Israel refuses to die out, it's unbelievable".
Literary career
Kemp co-wrote a book called Attack State Red about the deployment of the Royal Anglian RegimentRoyal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on 1 September 1964 as the first of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the East Anglian Brigade.* 1st Battalion from the...
in Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, in 2007 as a part of Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
. The title of the book comes from the British military standing operating procedures (SOPs) for attacking compounds and buildings in Afghanistan. Kemp wrote the book with Chris Hughes, a journalist with the Daily Mirror. The book seeks to place the civilian reader into the boots of the fighting soldier. It has been written with the intention of providing an insight into what it is like to confront an enemy in harsh battle conditions. The book was published in September 2009 by Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
.
Honours and awards
Kemp was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Military Division, on 25 April 1994 in recognition of his intelligence work in Northern Ireland in 1993, and was awarded the Queen's Commendation for BraveryQueen's Commendation for Bravery
The Queen's Commendation for Bravery is one of the United Kingdom awards granted for bravery entailing risk to life and meriting national recognition, but not at the level of the Queen's Gallantry Medal. The award may be granted posthumously and is not restricted to British subjects...
for service as a commander in the United Nations Protection Force
United Nations Protection Force
The United Nations Protection Force ', was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav wars. It existed between the beginning of UN involvement in February 1992, and its restructuring into other forces in March 1995...
in Bosnia in 1994. He was promoted Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Military Division, in the New Year Honours 2006
New Year Honours 2006
The New Year Honours 2006 for the Commonwealth realms were announced on 31 December 2005, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2006....
. In addition, he is a member of the International Advisory Board of NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor is a non-governmental organization based in Jerusalem, Israel whose stated aim is to generate and distribute critical analysis and reports on the output of the international NGO community for the benefit of government policy makers, journalists, philanthropic organizations and the...
and of the Board of Advancing Human Rights (NGO).