A TERRITORIAL Army soldier from Malvern whose quick thinking and bravery helped save lives in Iraq has been awarded a commendation.

Lance Corporal Thomas Spaughton, a former pupil of Worcester Grammar School, received a General Officer Commanding's (GOCs) Commendation from Major General John Cooper.

L/Cpl Spaughton, aged 20, is a rifleman and a team medic with B Company of the West Midland's Regiment, based in Silver Street, Worcester.

On two occasions during his tour in Basra he was at the scene of an accident where his prompt actions helped to save lives and calm difficult situations.

In February, while out on a mobile patrol, he came upon an overturned vehicle which contained a civilian contractor.

L/Cpl Spaughton took control of the accident scene and tended to the casualty.

Then in April while he was manning a permanent vehicle control point (VCP), a vehicle of the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement (DBE) came towards him at speed and overturned.

L/Cpl Spaughton directed RAF police personnel who were more senior to him to keep other DBE officers at bay, allowing him to assess the casualties. He also directed the onlookers to provide assistance for the extraction of the three DBE officers as well as giving life-saving first aid until medical support arrived.

The citation reads: "On both occasions he displayed qualities of leadership and initiative above and beyond his rank and military experience. In each incident his primary concern was the preservation of life and reassuring casualties that they were in safe hands."

L/Cpl Spaughton said: "I just helped out until medical aid arrived. There were broken bones and other injuries. I am a team medic and a regimental medical assistant. I was in the right place at the right time. I have been in the TA for three years. I wanted the challenge and to justify my training, so I volunteered.

"I am off to Worcester University in the autumn and the money I have saved here will help with that."