THE SUSTAINER | PRESENTATION
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LCPL DAVEY TIMMINS QGM By Brigadier Chris Murray CBE, Colonel Commandant of The Royal Logistic Corps On 15 June 2021,The Royal Logistic Corps was presented with Lance Corporal Davey Timmins’ Queen’s Gallantry Medal (QGM). The presentation was conducted at a poignant ceremony in the newly opened RLC Museum, where I had the honour of receiving Davey Timmins’ QGM and framed Citation from Cathy and Stephen Timmins, on behalf of the Corps. Present were key members of the Regimental Headquarters and, wonderfully, some of Davey’s colleagues from 11 EOD&S Regiment RLC, who had served with him and knew his family. Davey’s QGM has now joined the other gallantry medals that form part of the Corps’ Medal Collection. Davey Timmins was awarded his QGM for his gallantry as part of a High Threat IEDD team in Sangin, Helmand Province, in June 2009. A week later, Davey himself suffered life changing injuries from a victim operated IED that saw him being evacuated from Afghanistan and recovered to the hospital in Selley Oak, Birmingham; right alongside the young Sapper whose life he had saved the week before. Davey sadly passed away earlier this year and it was his fervent wish that his QGM be presented to the Corps. I was privileged to be the Director of The Royal Logistic Corps at the time of Davey’s gallant actions and his subsequent injuries. In 2009, the Afghanistan operation was undergoing a brutal phase and the Army was decisively engaged in a bitter fight in Helmand Province. The casualty rate was significant. In June, I visited Selley Oak hospital with my wife, to see all the RLC casualties whilst Davey was in intensive care. Sadly we had quite a few. The accompanying Warrant Officer mentioned that a young Royal Engineer soldier had heard that I was on the ward and was very keen to see me. He was the casualty on whom Davey had done such a great job the week before, with the amazing first aid he had administered in the middle of another roadside IED explosion. There was no doubt in this young Sapper’s mind that Davey had saved his life and this was reiterated by the medical staff who said 44
Davey had done such a professional job. The Sapper, selflessly, was keen to make sure that Davey’s efforts did not go unrecognised. A little later Davey was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal (QGM) for his actions that day. During our visit, I met up with Davey’s mum and the family in a waiting room adjacent to the intensive care ward and I remember mentioning to her at the time that Davey had two families – their family and his Corps family. I told them they are also part of our family and I hoped they have felt the reassuring arm of The RLC around their shoulders ever since. We gratefully receive Davey’s medals into the Corps and they will be displayed with honour for generations
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