Kim Hughes (GC)

Kim Hughes
Born	1979 (age 35–36)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1997 – present
Rank	Warrant Officer Class 2
Unit	11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment RLC
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	George Cross

Warrant Officer Class 2 Kim Spencer Hughes GC (born 12 September 1979) is a British Army bomb disposal expert (Ammunition Technician) who was awarded the George Cross as a staff sergeant for gallant acts carried out in the Afghanistan conflict. Hughes made safe over 80 improvised explosive devices on his tour of Afghanistan.^[1] The citation was presented to Hughes by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup on 18 March 2010 in a ceremony in the City of London. The posthumous award of the GC to Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid was announced at the same time. The awarded was gazetted on 19 March 2010.^[2]

His citation states that he carried out "the single most outstanding act of explosive ordnance disposal ever recorded in Afghanistan".^[2]

Early life

Hughes was born in Germany, where his father was serving in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and returned to England in 1985. He lived in Weston-super-Mare until 1988 when he moved to Telford.^[3] There he was educated at Thomas Telford School.^[4]

Medals

Kim Hughes has received the following medals.

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	George Cross (GC)	19 March 2010
	General Service Medal (1962)	With Northern Ireland Clasp
	NATO Medal	With Yugoslavia Clasp and Rotation Numeral '2'
	NATO Medal	With ISAF Clasp
	Iraq Medal
	Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan	With Afghanistan Clasp
	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal	2002
	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	2012
	Accumulated Campaign Service Medal
	Long Service and Good Conduct Medal	With Clasp "REGULAR ARMY"

References