News / Army
Questions raised over former soldier’s medal-winning acts
Days before his medals are due to go to auction, the actions of retired soldier Deacon Cutterham have been called into question.
Cutterham, who lives in Bristol and currently works for Redcliffe-based Deloitte, served in the Afghanistan war and was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for picking up and throwing away a Taliban grenade.
The medal, which is one level down from the Victoria Cross, is one of seven medals due to be sold at auction on Thursday for an estimated £120,000.
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The BBC has reported, however, that members of Cutterham’s battalion have disputed the acts which took place in 2011.
Some of his former colleagues in the 1st Battalion the Rifles disclosed that they are suspicious that their fellow soldier threw a Taliban grenade. None of the soldiers deny that a grenade went off, but they think that a grenade was thrown and it was one of Cutterham’s own.
“We believe a grenade was thrown, but it was his,” one of his former comrades told the BBC.
Another soldier, who carried out an equipment check when the patrol returned to base, said: “There was one grenade missing.”
The soldiers question the lack of further attacks on the British army patrol. If the Taliban had been close enough to throw a grenade, they question why no further attacks followed.
One soldier said: “He says he saw someone running away. Nobody else did. Nor was a single shot fired on that patrol.”
The BBC reported that a drone was flying above the patrol at the time showed no sign of enemy activity in the area, or of anybody else nearby.
Cutterham, who is 37 and served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, denies the claims.
Several of the soldiers who spoke to the BBC said that they raised concerns with commanders at the time, but were told they were only disputing the events because of a dislike for Cutterham.
One of his former Army colleagues told the BBC: “If you have a medal it makes you look good; it makes the commanders look good.
“You have to look to history when it comes to medals, there are witnesses… there’s been other people backing up what they’ve done.”
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: “Acts of courage that warrant an honour or award are rigorously scrutinised before being approved.
“If serving personnel have a grievance, there is a formal process for them to register their complaint through the chain of command, which would be looked into accordingly.”
Cutterham gave the BBC a statement via email: “I’m extremely disappointed that people are questioning the events of that day. I strongly deny these claims.”
Main photo: MoD
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