Brothers who joined army on same day become first twins to be awarded identical MBEs

Identical Ian and Richard Booth - both Captains in different regiments - made history after both being awarded with the top Royal awards for outstanding military service.

It is a quarter of a century since the brothers were waved off as 16-year-old school leavers by tearful mum from Leeds city station, West Yorkshire, in 1983.

Twin heroes: Richard and Ian Booth were honoured for their outstanding services to the military

Now aged 42, their faultless army careers have mirrored each other after both worked their way up from Private to Captain and served in war-torn countries across the globe.

Both of the tough brothers also passed the gruelling Royal Marine Commando Course allowing them to wear the famous Green Beret.

Two years ago Richard, of the Royal Artillery, was awarded the MBE for his leadership as the regimental sergeant major of unit during a posting in Germany.

Now Ian, of the Royal Logistics Corps, is to be honoured with the same award after being named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his role as a welfare officer, supporting troops in Afghanistan and their families at home.

The brothers, from Leeds, are both are on their way to becoming Majors in their respective regiments.

Ian said: ‘If I had put a bet on 20 years ago that we would receive the MBE I think I would be a rich man today.

Family pride: Richard, left, who was awared his MBE two years ago, with mother Jean and Ian

‘It’s a fantastic honour for the both of us. We have always been close, but very competitive with each other from an early age, and this is probably what has spurred us on.’

Ian and Richard became soldiers on the same day in 1983, soon after leaving Intake High School, Leeds, but were given postings in different regiments.

Ian, who still recalls he and his brother signing-up in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said: ‘I went in one office and Richard went in the one next door.

‘The next thing we knew we were being waved off in different directions by our mum from the station.

‘I suffered from terrible homesickness to start with. But thinking back it was probably because I had been without my brother for the first time in my life.’

Ian reckons the pair share a mysterious linking of the minds reported by some twins and said it has helped them at dangerous times.

Young soldiers: Richard, left, and Ian right, on holiday in 1975

He said: ‘We have definitely got that psychic link they say twins have.

‘In 1988 I was blown up in an IRA bomb in London. One soldier was killed but thankfully I was pulled out alive from the rubble.

‘The first thing Richard said to me later was: "I always knew you weren’t dead."'

Ian, who is currently based at Catterick, North Yorkshire, will go to Buckingham Palace later this year to collect the award with wife Janice, mum Jean Brownbridge and mother-in-law Nancy Hern after sons Jamie, 15, and Joseph, nine, gave up their places to allow their grandmothers to go.

Richard and wife Beverley have a home in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, with son Thomas, 18, and daughter Lucy, 15.

Thomas is planning to follow in his dad’s footsteps by joining the army.

Honour: Richard, right, as best man at Ian's wedding in 1990