| Surname: | Bottomley |
| Initials: | M C |
| Rank: | Staff Sergeant |
| Army Number: | 24140953 |
| Notes: | RMP. Michael Clement Bottomley. Provost Officer. London Gazette 51413, 8196, 19/7/1988. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army. Short Serv. Commn. Late Entry. The undermentioned WO I. to be 2/Lt., 15/4/1988, with seniority 15/4/1984. To be Lt., 15/4/1988, with seniority 15/4/1986: 24140953 Michael Clement Bottomley, BEM. (529663). See No. 529663 Lt. M C Bottomley for more details. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | British Empire Medal (London Gazette: 49969 Page: 20 Dec. 31, 1984) |
| Citation: | New Year Honour. 24140953 Staff Sergeant Michael Clement Bottomley, RMP. Commander, RMP Close Protection Team to BMA Beirut. 6 Dec 83 - 13 June 84.Citation: Over the 6 months period covered by this citation S/Sgt Bottomley was the commander of the Ambassador's close protection team. This coincided with a tense and dangerous period when the city of Beirut was once again split by fighting, taken over by rival militias and subjected to sporadic shelling. There were armed hold-ups, kidnappings and assassinations. The team was called upon to show decisiveness, sound judgement, tact, restraint and good humour; and to acquire information from and develop relations with militiamen of dubious reliability - all this in addition to the maintenance of their high professional standards and fitness. S/Sgt Bottomley led his team with a distinctive blend of firmness good humour and personal professional excellence. In particular he should be commended for his determination, courage, resourcefulness and good judgement on 6 Feb when he led a team of 3 from the Embassy through gathering disorder on the streets to the Ambassador's residence which was at risk from militiamen. These shot out the TV monitor at the gate and dragged off the official Rangerover at gunpoint; but were deterred by S/Sgt Bottomley's firm handling of the situation from invading the residence itself. After a night of shelling during which the team maintained calm at the residence and prevented any inroads by militiamen they brought the Ambassador's wife on the following day to the comparative safety of the Embassy officers.Recommended by R E Palmer, Counsellor, British Embassy Beirut. H M Ambassador, British Embassy Beirut. |
Provost Officer Appointments: | |
| No appointments recorded | |