JOANNE Stansfield, 30, found out she was pregnant weeks after husband Mark, 32, went to Iraq as part of Operation Telic 10.

In a tragic accident, Sgt Stansfield was knocked over by a mechanical digger driven by one of his comrades in the base at Basra Air Station.

He had emergency surgery at Basra Air Station Field Hospital and was transferred to Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, but died two days later on September 21, 2007.

Yesterday, Mrs Stansfield, of Langford Village, Bicester, and the couple’s son Jake, two, collected the Elizabeth Cross medal.

Mr Stansfield said: “I was 19 weeks pregnant when Mark died so he didn’t even see Jake or me pregnant. I didn’t find out I was pregnant until he had gone out there.

“He was very excited and loved the idea of it. We’d been trying for a baby since we got married in 2006, so it was very welcome news.”

Mrs Stansfield said she was “very proud” to collect the medal, and added it would join seven others displayed at her home.

In a citation read out at the ceremony, Sgt Stansfield, of the Royal Logistic Corps, was described by fellow soldiers as a loyal, committed and gentle soldier. Originally from Cheshire, Sgt Stansfield was in the Army for 15 years, serving in Belize, Iraq, the former Yugoslavia, the Falkland Islands and Northern Ireland.

  • ELLEN Rapley received the medal in honour of her son, Rifleman Anthony Rapley, 19, who was killed in an ambush in Northern Ireland in 1982.

Rifleman Rapley, who lived in Blackbird Leys and was a former Peers School pupil, joined the Army when he left school.

Mother-of-four Mrs Rapley, 77, who now lives in Hometree House, Bicester, said: “If he had lived he would have had a stripe (promoted) when he came back from Northern Ireland. It was lovely to get the medal. I have always been proud of him and all my kids.”

Rfn Rapley, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets, was posted to Northern Ireland in November 1981.

Four months later, he and two comrades were killed in an ambush in Crocus Street, in Belfast. Soldiers were fired on by a M60 machine gun in a highly organised attack.

A bomb had also been planted at a firing point to catch more soldiers, but did not go off. Rfn Rapley was awarded the Northern Ireland Clasp General Service Medal.

His family donated a silver trophy which is presented every year to the battalion’s most outstanding rifleman.

Lance Corporal Holmes, of the Royal Logistic Corps, joined up when she was 17 and became a postal and courier operator.

She had postings across the globe including Germany, Poland, the Falkland Islands, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kuwait, Kenya, Northern Ireland and Iraq.

Mrs Holmes, 52, of Naldertown, said: “She was just coming back from delivering post to the British Embassy when she was in a road accident.

“She had a career talk at school and decided to join up after that.

“Sarah loved every moment of Army life.”

She added: “Receiving the medal was very emotional and we are very proud we had a wonderful daughter.”

Each family was given two medals in a presentation box, and Mr and Mrs Holmes said they would each wear one.

L Cpl Holmes was awarded the GSM Northern Ireland clasp and operation Telic Iraq medal.

A citation read out at the ceremony said: “L Cpl Holmes was thought very highly of by all who had the honour of working with her.

“Professional, diligent, perfectionist, warm hearted and an infectious sense of humour were just a few of the words her colleagues used to describe her.”

  • George Buckley still does not know what happened to his brother Dennis, who went missing in action in Korea in 1951.

The pair were both serving in Korea and were able to meet shortly before he disappeared.

Mr Buckley, 85, of Fallowfields, Bicester, said: “He’s missing in action. I was based two or three miles away and I got a jeep and went to see him right before he disappeared. His platoon officer just said he didn’t come back. He just disappeared.

“I’m very pleased to receive the medal. They said they could have posted it to me, but I wanted to come.”

Pte Buckley signed up aged 30 in 1950 and joined the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. He went to fight in the Korean War, but on November 5, 1951, was reported missing and is presumed to have died in the battle of Maryang-Sang. He was awarded the United Nations Service Medal and Korean Medal.

  • ROBIN Hall, whose parents ran the King’s Arms pub, now the Deddington Arms, was 18 when he lost his life in the jungle of Malaya.

Pte Hall was conscripted into the Army for national service and joined the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

But while searching for a communist training camp north east of Ipoh, Pte Hall and five comrades were killed. He was buried in Batu Gajah cemetery, in Ipoh, known as God’s Little Acre.

His sister Patricia Colegrave, of Wykham Park Farm, near Banbury, said: “This is what the Elizabeth Cross was created for – people who had nothing to remember their loved one apart from a letter from the commanding officer. I’m thrilled to have it.”

Colleagues described Pte Hall as a “full and active member of the regiment, enthusiastic and adventurous”.