Ministry of Defence confirms probe into Nantwich soldier’s Military Cross

The Ministry of Defence is investigating claims a Nantwich soldier’s gallantry was “exaggerated” before he was awarded the Military Cross.

A report in a national newspaper suggests the actions of Lieutenant William Boreham, of 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, may have been overplayed, possibly without his knowledge.

Lieutenant Boreham, whose parents it’s believed run a pub in Nantwich, was awarded the MC for rescuing a casualty while under attack from insurgents in Afghanistan in 2012.

The former South Cheshire College student is said to have rescued a soldier badly injured after stepping on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

He and a colleague are said to have carried the severely injured comrade 30 metres to safety while under fire and call a helicopter to rescue them.

The citation concluded: “His ability to take charge of a situation which he had never experienced before, deal with a deadly insurgent attack and protect the lives of the remainder of the patrol and of the helicopter was a display of the very highest gallantry.”

But now that account has been called into question in a report by The Times newspaper.

An MoD spokeswoman told Nantwichnews: “It would be wholly inappropriate to comment on matters which are the subject of an ongoing investigation.”

Military rules suggest that any soldier who receives a gallantry award must not know in advance and have no involvement in the citation which should be written by a more senior officer.

This suggests the MoD investigation into Lieut Boreham’s award will centre on whether the citation was exaggerated and who did it.

Lieut Boreham, who now lives in Catterick, joined the Army in 2008 after a few years helping to run his family’s pub.

He was commissioned two years later.

He said at the time of the award: “I joined the army quite late in life. I used to have asthma but grew out of that probably because I trained as a boxer.

“There have been so many moments where I have asked myself how I ended up here, but working in a pub does prepare you quite well.”

The Military Cross is the third highest level of recognition for gallantry, leadership and bravery on active operations.