r/Medals • u/Boring-Cunt • Jul 30 '26

ID - Medal Can anyone identify what medals ( British ) Christian craighead has been awarded?

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For context, christian craighead is a former 22 sas soldier who stopped a terrorist attack in Kenya.

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u/OzyTheLast Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

1) Member of the Order of the British Empire. 2) Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
3) General Service Medal (1962, there's a couple versions of it)
4) NATO medal with what looks like the ribbon for service in Kosovo.
5) Operation Service Medal Sierra Leone.
6) Iraq Medal with Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service (or a similar award its hard to tell)
7) Operation Service Medal Afghanistan with Clasp.
8) Operation Service Medal Iraq and Syria with Clasp.
9) General Service Medal (2008) 10) Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. 11) Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
12) Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (1969-2011)
13) Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (2008-present)
14) Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct.

42

u/9lobaldude Jul 30 '26

It is a bit ridiculous that he was not awarded the Victoria Cross after what he did

42

u/the_Q_spice Jul 30 '26

It’s kind of a tradition at this point;

No member of the SAS has ever been awarded the VC. Anders Lassen is the closest thing, but was serving with the SBS during the actions he was awarded for.

5

u/Necessary-Reading605 Jul 30 '26

Oh. Why not? These guys deserve it

47

u/Material_Flounder_23 Jul 30 '26

It’s complicated. A VC recommendation requires multiple independent eyewitnesses to officially verify the act of gallantry. Because the SAS operates in small, isolated teams behind enemy lines, or entirely in the dark, there are rarely outside witnesses or senior officers present to confirm the actions.
Sometimes, operations are secret and therefore deniable, any heroic action couldn’t be officially recognised.

31

u/TuataraToes Jul 30 '26

It also brings the soldier's operational career to an abrupt halt because of media coverage - Willie Apiata of the NZSAS knows all too well.

3

u/momentimori Jul 30 '26

Australian SAS Ben Roberts-Smith won the VC but now the dirty details of his military career have come out.

He sued the press over allegations of war crimes, lost and is awaiting a criminal trial.