Families of soldiers who died serving Britain, presented with Elizabeth Cross

The families of three soldiers, who passed away while serving their country, have received the Elizabeth Cross, for their loved one's efforts.

In a ceremony at Aldershot Garrison, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire gave the recipients their medals alongside a memorial scroll.

The Elizabeth Cross, created 13-years-ago, was made to recognise the heroic sacrifice suffered by the families of war heroes.

An Army spokesman said: “The respect and reverence afforded this emblem means it remains the only award to bear the name of the reigning monarch at the time of its inauguration since the George Cross in 1940.”

During the presentation, the Lord Lieutenant said: “This is a very special honour.

“The honour was launched in 2009 by her late majesty the Queen and is granted to the next of kin of armed forces personnel killed on operations or as a result of terrorism as a mark of national recognition for their loss.”

One cross was given to the family of Private Peter Davis, of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, who passed away on November 17, 1951.

During his service in the Korean War, he was fatally struck by an enemy missile. He was laid to rest in the United Nations Military Cemetery in Tanggok, South Korea.

The Lord Lieutenant presented the next award to acknowledge, Major Edwin Andrews, of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, who died after a terrorist attack resulted in a mine explosion in Cyprus on October 30, 1958.

He is buried in Wayne’s Keep Military Cemetery in the island’s capital, Nicosia.

His nephew, Andrew Gillett, received the medal in his uncle's memory, and after the ceremony, Brigadier, Justin Stenhouse, presented the family with the Canal Zone Clasp acknowledging Maj Andrews’ service during the Suez crisis.

Mr Gillett, from near Lewes, East Sussex, said: “It means a lot to us, it was a wonderful occasion and it gives completion to his life.

“The Army was his life. He went into the TA in 1938 and signed up in 1939, and thereafter the Army was his family and life until the time of his death.

“He was one of those uncle figures that was so lovely because when he came off leave he would always give me something.

“On his last leave he gave me an Army clasp knife which I coveted for some time and that was the final memory of him which I still have.”

The ceremony concluded with a tribute to Corporal Andrew McIlvenny, of 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers, who died on June 8 1982, after his Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Sir Galahad, was bombed by the Argentine air force.

His body, alongside the 43 others who died in the attack, was never recovered.

His widow, Heather Beckett, accepted the cross and memorial scroll.