Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal, David 'Dia' Harvey, 2004 (c)

Circular rhodium plated cupro-nickel medal with, on the obverse, effigy of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, with the inscription 'Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fid Def'; on the reverse, cuneiform symbols, translated as 'land bringing forth life', with the stylised representations of two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates (based on a Mesopotamian carving in the British Museum), with 'Iraq' in the exergue; the recipient's name is inscribed on the rim; sand-coloured ribbon with central green stripe flanked by two narrower blue stripes.

David John Harvey, known to his family and friends as 'Dia', left school at the age of 14 to work in construction and then joined the Junior Tradesmen's Regiment. Harvey enlisted in the Royal Hampshire Regiment in April 1966 and served in Cyprus and Northern Ireland where he completed four tours of duty, including a two year posting to Ballykelly. He advanced to Warrant Officer Class 1.

Harvey passed the Special Air Service (SAS) selection process in August 1981 and served with 22 SAS in the Falklands, Northern Ireland and the Gulf War (1990-1991). He left the SAS in July 1992. After leaving the Regiment Harvey went to on to work as a Chief Instructor in the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Sultan of Oman's Special Forces. On leaving the Sultan's Special Forces, he undertook close protection duties in the Middle East for British Petroleum, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.

The Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal was issued to Armed Forces personnel, working with or seconded to Her Majesty's Government Departments, and civilians, deployed by HMG, who served during forty days and were not awarded or eligible for the Iraq Medal. It was awarded between 2004 and 2013. This medal is associated with Harvey's close protection work for British Petroleum, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.

From a medal group awarded to Warrant Officer 1 David John 'Dia' Harvey, Royal Hampshire Regiment and 22 Special Air Service Regiment.