Families of fallen soldiers presented with Elizabeth Cross
Families of three soldiers who were killed in service have received an Elizabeth Cross in recognition of their loss and sacrifice.
The presentation of the medals, along with a memorial scroll, took place during a ceremony at Aldershot Garrison.
One cross was presented to the family of Private Peter Davis, of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, who died on 17 November 1951.
Another cross was presented to the family of Major Edwin Andrews, of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, who died on 30 October 1958 after a mine explosion in Cyprus as a result of terrorist activity.
The third recipient was the family of Corporal Andrew McIlvenny, of 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers, who died on 8 June 1982 aboard Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Sir Galahad, when it was bombed by the Argentine air force.
What is the Elizabeth Cross?
The Elizabeth Cross is awarded in national recognition of the loss and sacrifice suffered by the families of service personnel killed on operations in the line of duty, or as a result of terrorism.
Introduced in 2009 and named after the late Queen Elizabeth II, it was the first time since the George Cross was instituted in 1940 by King George VI that a reigning monarch had given their name to a new award.
According to the Government, the Elizabeth Cross is available to families of those who died in conflicts dating back to 1948. This includes the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Falklands conflict, operations in Northern Ireland amid the Troubles and more recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Find out more about the decoration here.
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