Soldier, 19, in bravery citation for Bosnia heroics

Mathew Mitchell, a 19-year-old private, became one of the youngest British soldiers ever to be mentioned for bravery in despatches in January this year, after coming under fire at a checkpoint on the ceasefire line between Serbs and Croats in Bosnia.

His gallantry award is one of several for British troops serving in Bosnia announced last night.

The highest award - the Air Force Cross - goes to an army helicopter pilot, Major David Meyer, 34, who won his award for landing a bomb-disposal party in the middle of a minefield "in appalling and hazardous conditions" on 28 January, after an armoured troop carrier was destroyed.

The Queen's Commendation for Bravery (QCB) goes to Lance Corporal Dominic Glyde, 23, of the Royal Engineers, for gaining control of the situation, rescuing his officer and continuing to advise rescuing troops after his vehicle had been blown upside down by a mine, again on the front-line between Serbs and others, in December 1995.

Pte Mitchell, of the 2nd Battalion the Light Infantry, was on duty at a checkpoint near Sanski Most when he came under heavy machine-gun fire from Serb positions to the north. He fired back, enabling the rest of his patrol to withdraw.

L/Cpl Glyde spotted an anti-tank mine and braked to avoid it, but hit another. His vehicle was thrown into the air by the blast, landing among more mines.

"Despite blast injuries to his own leg, [Cpl Glyde] then administered first-aid and provided reassurance to his vehicle commander".