Private Liam Downs of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment
{"Image ImageWidth": "4928", "Image ImageLength": "3280", "Image BitsPerSample": "[8, 8, 8]", "Image PhotometricInterpretation": "2", "Image ImageDescription": "Photo by Corporal Andy Reddy RLC\n\nEMBARGO: 0001 FRIDAY, 22 MARCH 2013\n \nA SOLDIER who demonstrated courage beyond all expectations in Afghanistan has been awarded a Mention in Despatches. \n\nPrivate Liam Downs, of The Royal Gibraltar Regiment, was on his first operational tour when he consistently put himself in harm\u2019s way to support his comrades under enemy fire. \n\nOn June 21 last year, Liam\u2019s company deployed from Patrol Base Pimon on a mission to disrupt a notorious enemy safe haven. The insurgents in this area were a particularly aggressive group, well armed and veterans of several years of fighting.\n\nAs Liam and his comrades pressed forward they came under heavy fire from an isolated compound. Though sheltered, they only had minutes before the insurgents would out-flank them and the only escape was to cross open ground for better cover. \n\nLiam volunteered to climb the roof of the compound and provide covering fire, becoming the focus of the enemy with rounds ricocheting off surrounding walls. Undeterred, he pressed on to the top and from folds of the roof raked the insurgent positions some 300 metres away with returning fire.\n\nLiam\u2019s Mention in Despatches, one of the oldest forms of recognition for gallantry within the UK Armed Forces, is one of 24 awarded on this occasion.   \n\nThe announcement was made today with the release of the latest operational honours and awards list which includes 119 personnel. The awards are for actions roughly during the period April to September, 2012, during Operation HERRICK 16.\n\nNOTE TO DESKS: \nMoD release authorised handout images. \nAll images remain crown copyright. \nPhoto credit to read - Corporal Andy Reddy RLC\n\nEmail: andyreddy@mediaops.army.mod.uk\nrichardwatt@mediaops.army.mod.uk\nshanewilkinson@mediaops.army.mod.uk", "Image Make": "NIKON CORPORATION", "Image Model": "NIKON D4", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image SamplesPerPixel": "3", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop CS5.1 Windows", "Image DateTime": "2013:04:05 10:52:51", "Image Artist": "Corporal Andy Reddy RLC", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Co-sited", "Image Copyright": "Crown Copyright 2013: This image may be used for current news purposes only.", "Image ExifOffset": "2236", "GPS GPSVersionID": "[2, 3, 0, 0]", "Image GPSInfo": "2944", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "3058", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "5666", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/200", "EXIF FNumber": "28/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Manual", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "200", "EXIF SensitivityType": "Recommended Exposure Index", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0230", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2013:03:20 14:15:00", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2013:03:20 14:15:00", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF CompressedBitsPerPixel": "4", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "477741/62500", "EXIF ApertureValue": "2485427/500000", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "-1/3", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "3", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF LightSource": "Flash", "EXIF Flash": "Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, return light not detected", "EXIF FocalLength": "86", "EXIF SubSecTime": "30", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "30", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "30", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "960", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "640", "Interoperability InteroperabilityIndex": "R98", "Interoperability InteroperabilityVersion": "[48, 49, 48, 48]", "EXIF InteroperabilityOffset": "2912", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF FileSource": "Digital Camera", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF CVAPattern": "[0, 2, 0, 2, 0, 1, 1, 2]", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Manual Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Manual", "EXIF DigitalZoomRatio": "1", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "86", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF GainControl": "None", "EXIF Contrast": "Normal", "EXIF Saturation": "Normal", "EXIF Sharpness": "Normal", "EXIF SubjectDistanceRange": "0"}