THE mother of a helicopter pilot killed in Iraq has spoken of her pride after receiving a medal in his honour.

Deirdre Gover, 63, plans to have the Elizabeth Cross made into a pendant as a constant reminder of her son Flight Lieutenant Kristian Gover.

The 30-year-old Puma helicopter pilot, who was stationed at RAF Benson, near Wallingford, and lived in Headington, Oxford, was killed in July 2004 in an accident at Basra International Airport.

Mrs Gover and husband Tony, 68, who live in Paris, returned to the base with daughter Toni, who lives in Bampton, and other family members to receive the cross on Wednesday.

The medal is awarded to next-of-kin of Armed Forces personnel killed on active service, in recognition of their loss.

It was presented by the Queen’s representative in the county – the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson – and RAF Benson station commander Group Captain Jonathan Burr.

Mrs Gover said: “The cross is absolutely beautiful. I intend to have it made into a pendant and I will wear it all of the time. The Lord Lieutenant was very pleasant and the ceremony was well done.”

She added: “I felt Kristian died for his Queen and country and this ceremony was important for his colleagues and his friends as well.

“It was a bit odd going on to the military base again as the last time was for his funeral service. It’s a good closing. You never get over these things but it has been six years now. It was also good to see the station commander who was there when Kristian died.”

A cross was also presented to the family of Wing Commander John Coxen, 46, who was the most senior British officer to be killed in Iraq. He died in May 2006.

Wing Cdr Coxen, based at Benson, but originally from Liverpool, was one of five British troops killed in a helicopter crash in Basra.

They included Ft Lt Sarah-Jayne Mulvihill, 32, from Kent, who was the first female member of British forces killed in action in Iraq. She was also based at Benson.

The Elizabeth Cross is the first new medal to carry the name of a reigning monarch since the George Cross was first handed out in 1940.