Bomb cell honour

Hole lot of work: Capt Tony Gilchrist (lower right) at a bomb site in Iraq with members of CEXC.

Capt Tony Gilchrist

By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

THE courage and professionalism of an Army ammunition technician who served in Iraq this year has now been recognised by both the Australian Government and the FBI.

The Governor-General recently announced the awarding of the Distinguished Service Medal to Capt Tony Gilchrist for his service as the Operations and Intelligence Officer for the Combined Explosives Exploitation Cell (CEXC) in Iraq.

Capt Gilchrist was responsible for establishing CEXC’s intelligence cell, which included Australian, British and American personnel. He personally led 67 of the 102 missions he supported, coming under fire on 15 occasions. On one mission he discovered an indicator of a tertiary device at an IED site that had killed four US soldiers with a primary device and badly injured a UK EOD officer with a secondary device. On that occasion he spotted a short section of cord, which led to the discovery of two 122 mm HE shells attached to an improvised switch. He was noted for his calm reaction by his CEXC colleagues who witnessed the event.

Capt Gilchrist said he was pleasantly surprised when he heard he had been awarded the DSM. “I received a letter from the Governor-General, and I could tell from what he wrote that he had a good understanding of what our team had achieved,” he said.

“I look at the DSM as an award for the whole team. When I learnt about the award I telephoned the men who had been my intelligence sergeant and geospatial sergeant and thanked them again for their efforts.”

Before his return to Australia, the FBI’s On-scene Commander John Perren had commended Capt Gilchrist and the team for their contribution. In a letter to Capt Gilchrist, Mr Perren wrote of the ammunition technician’s expertise in gathering intelligence through the collection of forensic evidence at bomb sites for evaluation.

“Your work ethic was impeccable and you led by example on every occasion,” Mr Perren wrote. “Although the CEXC is comprised of personnel from many different organisations, you were immediately accepted by the team and were valued for your expertise and leadership.”

DSM citation

CAPT Gilchrist played a key role in the collection, exploitation and dissemination of technical information and forensic evidence relating to the construction and emplacement of improvised explosive devices by anti-Iraq forces. His conduct when responding to incidents involving such devices, often under the threat of direct enemy action, was professional and courageous. Capt Gilchrist’s conduct has been of the highest order and in accordance with the finest traditions of the ADF.