Today's defence-related news includes coverage of operational honours and comments on Russia from the Chief of the General Staff.
Operational honours
The Sunday Telegraph, The Sun on Sunday, The Sunday People, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Express, The Herald and Scotland on Sunday report on this year’s operational honours. All outlets lead on Trooper Ross Woodward, from 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, who received the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery after he rushed to the aid of those injured in the Las Vegas massacre last year. In an interview with the Press Association, Woodward said “anyone in the military would have done the same”. The Sunday Times also reports on Royal Navy diver Chief Petty Officer Kristopher Fenwick, who was awarded a Queen’s Gallantry Medal after safely blowing up a World War II bomb discovered in Portsmouth harbour last year. The Sunday Express article also features RAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Alexander Eveson, who received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service after he saved the life of a baby at the peak of the British military’s Hurricane Irma relief efforts.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
The diversity of this year’s awards show the extraordinary achievements our Armed Forces.
Whether it’s defeating Daesh in Iraq and Syria, saving lives and providing disaster relief in the Caribbean or protecting our home waters, our service personnel go above and beyond the call of duty.
It is only right that we recognise those who have demonstrated exceptional skill, bravery and courage. I congratulate all those who have been recognised.
CGS Interview
The Independent and The Sun feature comments from the Chief of the General Staff, General Mark Carleton-Smith, stating that Russia is a greater threat to Britain than Islamic extremist groups. This comes after the Daily Telegraph featured the story on its front page yesterday.
Chief of the General Staff, General Mark Carleton-Smith, said:
The Russians seek to exploit vulnerability and weakness wherever they detect it.
Russia today indisputably represents a far greater threat to our national security than Islamic extremist threats such as al-Qaeda and Isil.
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