Warrant Officer Class 1 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 119 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]
Kim Hughes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 September 1979 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1997–2020 |
| Rank | Warrant Officer Class 1 |
| Unit | 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment RLC |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | George Cross |
His citation states that he carried out "the single most outstanding act of explosive ordnance disposal ever recorded in Afghanistan".[2]
Early life edit
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]
Later life edit
Hughes left the army in October 2020. He has since published an autobiographical account of his experiences in Afghanistan, Painting the Sand,[5] plus a thriller novel, Operation Certain Death.[6]
Since 2022, Hughes has been the Vice Chairman of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.[7]
References edit
- ^ "George Cross for Army Afghanistan bomb heroes". BBC. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
- ^ a b "No. 59365". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 March 2010. pp. 4831–4832.
- ^ Shropshire Star, 19 March 2010
- ^ "Former school honours George Cross hero, WO Kim Hughes". BBC News. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ Hughes, Kim (17 May 2018). Painting the Sand. ISBN 9781471156724.
- ^ Andrews, Mark (18 January 2021). "Shropshire George Cross bomb disposal hero uses experiences to pen new novel". The Shropshire Star. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "THE VICTORIA CROSS AND GEORGE CROSS ASSOCIATION TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022". www.register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.