✨ Special Honours List
SPECIAL
New Zealand Gazette
WELLINGTON: TUESDAY, 7 MAY 2013 — ISSUE NO. 51
SPECIAL HONOURS
LIST 2013
NEW ZEALAND GALLANTRY AWARDS
The Queen has been pleased to approve the following New Zealand Gallantry Awards.
NEW ZEALAND GALLANTRY DECORATION (NZGD)
To receive the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration:
NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE
The late Lance Corporal Leon Kristopher SMITH
(T1002840), 1 New Zealand Special Air Service Group
Note: Lance Corporal Smith was killed in action in Afghanistan on 28 September 2011.
Background
Lance Corporal Smith enlisted in the New Zealand Army on 23 August 2005. He completed NZSAS selection in 2006 and became a badged member of the NZSAS in 2007.
Prior to the events described below, he had served on Operation Watea over the period January – October 2010 and started his second tour of duty in early August 2011.
Citation
On 19 August 2011, Lance Corporal Smith, as a member of the NZSAS Task Force, responded to an insurgent attack on the British Council Offices in the centre of Kabul, Afghanistan. Five insurgents used a Suicide Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device to gain entry into the British Council Offices. Having made entry into the compound they manoeuvred themselves into a strong defensive position where they could rain down small arms fire and rockets and ultimately detonate suicide vests against the rescue force. This incident was complex in nature. Not only was the enemy determined and well-equipped, five British nationals were also isolated within the compound.
Lance Corporal Smith arrived on the scene with other members of the NZSAS who were supporting the Afghan Crisis Response Unit (CRU). As part of a supporting plan Lance Corporal Smith moved into an over-watch position 30 metres away from the insurgents’ stronghold. The NZSAS personnel, including Lance Corporal Smith, began to prepare a plan to rescue the hostages and to assist the CRU to clear the compound of insurgents.
At approximately 11.35am (local time), Corporal Grant, another member of the Task Force, moved across the backyard of the target building to link up with other NZSAS members. Whilst rushing up a stairwell Corporal Grant was mortally wounded by insurgent fire. Initially it was not known where Corporal Grant had fallen or what condition he was in.
With no concern for his personal safety, Lance Corporal Smith pushed into an exposed position to view and confirm Corporal Grant’s exact location. Lance Corporal Smith saw Corporal Grant lying inside a small structure slightly above him at the top of some stairs. Without hesitation Lance Corporal Smith requested to move to Corporal Grant’s position in order to render first aid, but was told by his Troop Commander to wait for a ballistic shield.
During this period Lance Corporal Smith’s position was receiving a significant volume of insurgent machine gun and rifle fire.
Once Lance Corporal Smith received the ballistic shield, he took two deep breaths, gave his Troop Commander a positive nod and the ‘GO’ call was issued.
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NZ Gazette 2013, No 51
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🛡️ New Zealand Gallantry Awards
🛡️ Defence & MilitaryGallantry Awards, NZGD, Afghanistan, NZSAS
- Leon Kristopher Smith (Lance Corporal), Awarded New Zealand Gallantry Decoration
- Grant (Corporal), Mentioned in citation