Christopher Finney

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Christopher Finney GC (born 23 May 1984 in Brussels, Belgium) is a British soldier of the Blues and Royals awarded the George Cross for bravery under friendly fire during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Finney grew up in Marple, near Stockport, later moving to Dorset where he trained with the Dorset Army Cadet Force. He joined the Army in September 2000, attending the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, and joining the Household Cavalry Regiment at Windsor in January 2002. The Iraq campaign was his first operational deployment.

On 28 March 2003 the Scimitar armoured vehicle he was driving near the Shatt al-Arab waterway north of Basra came under fire from a pair of American ground attack aircraft. Finney escaped from the burning vehicle, but returned to it when he realised that his gunner was trapped in the turret and succeeded in rescuing him. Realising that his comrades were all injured, he returned to the vehicle a second time to inform his headquarters of the situation. He then proceeded to help the wounded gunner to safety even while the two aircraft carried out a second attack, hitting Finney in the lower back and legs. Finally, he returned to the scene of the attack a third time to attempt to rescue the injured driver of another burning vehicle.

On 31 October 2003 he was awarded the George Cross — the highest award for acts of conspicuous gallantry performed when not in the face of the enemy, becoming the youngest serviceman in the British Armed Forces to receive it, and only the 154th recipient since its inception in 1940. The award was made at Buckingham Palace on 25 February 2004 by Queen Elizabeth II.

Lance-Corporal of Horse Mick Flynn, also of the Blues and Royals, was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for the same action. Sergeant Andrew Sindall of the Royal Engineers, who was attached to D Squadron, was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

It had been suggested that Trooper Finney was to be nominated for the Victoria Cross, the highest military award of the British military, but the suggestion was rejected due to the fact that the Victoria Cross is for acts of valour "in the face of the enemy", and as Trooper Finney and his comrades were under attack from American forces, he did not qualify for the medal. It is noteworthy, however, that the CGC, awarded to Flynn for the same action, is also only awarded for gallantry in the face of the enemy. This is incorrect. According to the Defence Internet Guide to Honours [1], The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is awarded "in recognition of an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy." While the actual contact was a blue-on-blue, at the time the troop was engaged on "active operations against the enemy" and therefore the honour was correctly awarded.

Finney has since been promoted Lance-Corporal.

[edit] Full citation from the London Gazette

On 28th March 2003 D Squadron Household Cavalry Regiment were probing forward along the Shatt-Al-Arab waterway, north of Basrah, some thirty kilometres ahead of the main force of 16 Air Assault Brigade. In exposed desert, their mission was to find and interdict the numerically vastly superior, and better equipped, Iraqi 6th Armoured Division.

Trooper Finney, a young armoured vehicle driver with less than a year's service, was driving the leading Scimitar vehicle of his troop, which had been at the forefront of action against enemy armour for several hours. In the early afternoon the two leading vehicles paused beside a levee to allow the troop leader to assess fully the situation in front. Without warning they were engaged by a pair of Coalition Forces ground attack aircraft. Both vehicles were hit and caught fire and ammunition began exploding inside the turrets. Trooper Finney managed to get out of his driving position and was on the way towards cover when he noticed that his vehicle's gunner was trapped in the turret. He then climbed onto the fiercely burning vehicle, at the same time placing himself at risk from enemy fire, as well as fire from the aircraft should they return. Despite the smoke and flames and exploding ammunition he managed to haul out the injured gunner, get him off the vehicle, and move him to a safer position not far away, where he bandaged his wounds.

The troop officer, in the other Scimitar, had been wounded and there were no senior ranks to take control. Despite his relative inexperience, the shock of the attack and the all-too-obvious risk to himself, Finney recognised the need to inform his headquarters of the situation. He therefore broke cover, returned to his vehicle, which was still burning, and calmly and concisely sent a lucid situation report by radio. He then returned to the injured gunner and began helping him towards a Spartan vehicle of the Royal Engineers which had moved forward to assist.

At this point Finney noticed that both the aircraft were lining up for a second attack. Notwithstanding the impending danger he continued to help his injured comrade towards the safety of the Spartan vehicle. Both aircraft fired their cannon and Finney was wounded in the lower back and legs and the gunner in the head. Despite his wounds, Finney succeeded in getting the gunner to the waiting Spartan. Then, seeing that the driver of the second Scimitar was still in the burning vehicle, Finney determined to rescue him as well. Despite his wounds and the continuing danger from exploding ammunition he valiantly attempted to climb up onto the vehicle but was beaten back by the combination of heat, smoke and exploding ammunition. He collapsed exhausted a short distance from the vehicle and was recovered by the crew of the Royal Engineers Spartan.

During these attacks and their horrifying aftermath, Finney displayed clear-headed courage and devotion to his comrades which was out of all proportion to his age and experience. Acting with complete disregard for his own safety even when wounded, his bravery was of the highest order throughout.