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Widow will receive the first Elizabeth Cross
Peter Dominiczak18 Aug 2009
The widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan will be the first to receive the new Elizabeth Cross.
Karen Upton will receive the medal before the funeral of her husband, Warrant Officer Sean Upton, 35, at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire today, according to the Daily Mirror.
Warrant Officer Upton, originally from Nottingham, died in an explosion while on foot patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand province last month.
The senior NCO, who was second in command of the Police Mentoring Team in Sangin and has been in the Army for 19 years, was from the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery. He left his wife and two children, Hollie and Ewan.
Mrs Upton, 32, told the Mirror: "I will wear it in honour of Sean with pride and treasure it."
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth announced the establishment of the Elizabeth Cross, right, in July. It is to be awarded to the next of kin of forces personnel killed on active service, or as a result of terrorism, in a mark of national recognition of their loss. It is the first time the name of a reigning monarch has been given to a new award since 1940, when the George Cross was instituted.
Lt-Col Rob Thomson, Commanding Officer 2 Rifles Battle Group, said Warrant Officer Upton's children had lost "their hero". He said: "He was adored by his Afghan policeman and that is a reflection of his qualities as a man and as a soldier."
