New Year Honours 2026: Complete list of military personnel set to receive awards
Dozens of personnel from across the Armed Forces are among the recipients in the New Year Honours list.
The list recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people in the UK, with the military division including servicemen and women from both regular and reserve forces.
These include those who have gone above and beyond while on duty, as well as those commended for their long-standing contributions during their distinguished military careers.
Notable recipients include Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, who was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) - the second-highest rank in the prestigious order of chivalry.
Succeeding Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Sir Rich Knighton, ACM Smyth's appointment coincided with the RAF's announcement that it plans to acquire 12 F-35A fighter jets, restoring the service's nuclear capability for the first time since the 1990s.
A naval career spanning 40-years, former CDS Admiral Sir Tony Radakin was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE).
Throughout his tenure, Adm Sir Tony oversaw the UK military's vital role in supporting Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022, as well as the evacuation of around 2,500 British nationals and their dependents from Sudan in 2023.
Warrant Officer Angela Cheal is being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her efforts working tirelessly to design, develop and deliver a bespoke recovery programme for Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.
What began as a single initiative has grown into around 80 recovery courses being delivered annually, aimed at helping personnel resume their careers, or, if unable, build new lives in civvy street.
In the words of citation for her MBE, her efforts have made a "direct impact on up to 1,000 people, making the experience and recovery outcomes significantly better, and laid the foundation to support many more".
This year's honours list also recognises both past and present members of the newly restructured Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) for their services to defence.
Announced in September, its creation delivers on a vision set out in the Strategic Defence Review and brings cyberspace fully into the fold as an area of focus for the Armed Forces.
Honouring the lives of veterans
One of the list's oldest recipients, 102-year-old D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, was awarded an MBE for his contributions to volunteering and history.
Signing up for the war effort on his 18th birthday, Mr Morgan took part in the Normandy landings at Gold Beach in 1944 and was later based in Germany in 1945 working in an intelligence unit.
He had previously been awarded numerous military honours, including the Légion d'Honneur from the French government.
In recent years, he has shared his experiences through talks at museums, schools, and cadet groups, ensuring that history is not forgotten - an effort that earned him his MBE.
Another Normandy veteran, 101-year old Mervyn Kersh was awarded a British Empire Medal in recognition of his wartime service and for educating students about the Holocaust.
Full list of military-awarded honours:
Royal Navy
Order of the Bath
Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)
- Vice Admiral Michael Keith Utley, CB, OBE
Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB)
- Rear Admiral James Miles Benjamin Parkin, CBE
Order of the British Empire
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
- Admiral Sir Antony Radakin, KCB
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Commodore Sharon Louise Malkin, ADC
- Brigadier Christopher Norman Maurice Patrick Ordway
- Commodore Roger Brian Readwin
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Captain Alistair Clack
- Commander Sean Dufosee, MBE
- Lieutenant Colonel David Hartley
- Captain Simon Herbert
- Captain Mohayed Mohamed Mustafa Magzoub
- Commander Mandy Mcbain, MBE
- Commander Robert William Moore
- Commodore Stephanie Pearmain
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Captain Richard Vernon Angove
- Chief Petty Officer (Diver) Philip Brierley
- Lieutenant Commander Rachel Sarah Campbell
- Chief Petty Officer (Photographer) Angela Cheal
- Lieutenant Commander George Richard Lunn
- Sub Lieutenant Ashta Mcmillan
- Lieutenant Commander Caroline Frances Oakes
- Lieutenant Ryan Sookoo
- Lieutenant Commander (Sea Cadet Corps) Fay Isadora Eleanor Taylor
- Warrant Officer 1 Engineering Technician (Marine Engineer) Mark Thomas
British Army
Order of the Bath
Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB)
- Lieutenant General Jeremy Matthew James Bennett, CBE
- Major General Sarah Helen Johansen, MBE
- Major General Gerald Mark Strickland, DSO, MBE
Order of the British Empire
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
- Lieutenant General David James Eastman, MBE
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Brigadier David James Bickers, MBE
- Major General Carl William Boswell
- Brigadier Mark Joffrie Comer
- Brigadier Shay Joseph James Marks
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Lieutenant Colonel Finlay Bibby
- Colonel Duncan Alan Chamberlain
- Colonel Geraint Martin Davies
- Lieutenant Colonel Johann Amrit Jeevaratnam
- Colonel Andrew James Maskell
- Lieutenant Colonel Alistair James Morris
- Colonel Ceri Myrline Morton
- Lieutenant Colonel Paula Janet Nicholas, MBE
- Lieutenant Colonel Garrett James O’Leary
- Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Rhyen Pattinson
- Colonel James Francis Peycke
- Lieutenant Colonel James Andrew Seddon
- Lieutenant Colonel Harry Guy Simpson
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Major Martin James Bentley
- Lieutenant Colonel Christopher William Billups
- Warrant Officer Class 1 Casey Alan Brooks
- Major Steven John Russell Burton
- Lieutenant Colonel Mark Connelly
- Major Jack Collicott
- Warrant Officer Class 1 Adam Lee Culliford
- Lieutenant Paul Clifford Deakin
- Warrant Officer Class 2 Stella Gale
- Major Johnathan Green
- Corporal Shane Alan John Green
- Captain Emma Grimshaw
- Corporal Dayle Mark Hardaker
- Major Thomas Henry Raikes Hargreaves
- Captain Stuart Thomas Hawkins
- Major William Patrick Heather-Hayes
- Major Amanda Claire Hewitt
- Lieutenant Colonel David Leslie Hobbs
- Warrant Officer Class 1 Derek Neil Hodgson
- Corporal Jessica Maites Hoggarth
- Lance Corporal of Horse Lewis Homewood
- Major James Robert Hood
- Colour Sergeant Scott William Jamieson
- Major Chakra Bahadur Khatri
- Major Mark Richard Samuel Lambert
- Major Jonathan David Leigh
- Major Anthony Peter Campbell Leighton
- Major Christopher Robert Mawson
- Major Matthew Adrian McGarvey-Miles
- Major Maxim Stuart Erskine-Naylor
- Colonel Edwin Peter Oldfield
- Captain David Alan Paylor
- Colonel Sarah Raitt
- Warrant Officer Class 2 Steven Paul Sharp
- Major Aaron Mark Thompson
- Warrant Officer Class 2 Ashley Tipping
- Lieutenant Colonel Darren Ward
- Staff Sergeant James Nathan Weller
- Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Christopher Williams
- Lieutenant Colonel Natasha Marketa Chatham-Zvelebil
Royal Air Force
Order of the Bath
Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)
- Air Chief Marshal Harvey Smyth, CB, OBE, DFC
Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB)
- Air Vice-Marshal David Scott Artherton, OBE
- Air Vice-Marshal Timothy David Neal-Hopes, OBE
Order of the British Empire
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Air Vice-Marshal Adrian Stewart Burns
- Air Commodore Peter Nigel Cracroft
- Air Vice-Marshal Philip Thomas Giles Lester
- Air Commodore Nicholas Michael Worrall
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Wing Commander Frederic Yves Gagnon
- Group Captain Paul Anthony Hanson
- Group Captain Andrew Peter March
- Squadron Leader Alison Faith Mcdowell
- Wing Commander Richard Podmore
- Group Captain James Peter Radley
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Flight Lieutenant Jack James Bentley
- Wing Commander Christopher Wyndham Berryman
- Squadron Leader Christopher Bowen
- Squadron Leader Robert Geoffrey Causer
- Squadron Leader Mark Robert Dennett
- Wing Commander Laura Kate Frowen
- Corporal David Jameson
- Flight Lieutenant Richard Geoffrey Micklethwaite
- Sergeant Gareth Anthony Roberts
- Squadron Leader Carl John Strachan
- Warrant Officer Mark Willis
The very best of Britain
Commenting on those recognised, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "This year's Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.
"Their quiet dedication speaks to the decent, compassionate country we are proud to be. On behalf of the whole nation, thank you – and congratulations to everyone recognised today."
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