The father of a Dundee soldier awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery yesterday spoke of his pride in his son.

Lance-Corporal Steven Leslie (23) was presented with the medal at The Black Watch barracks in Warminster on Thursday.

He was honoured for rescuing Sergeant Kevin Stacey from a transporter after it was hit by a roadside bomb in Basra on August 12.

Private Marc Ferns from Glenrothes died in the incident, while Sergeant Stacey, from Perth, suffered serious head injuries.

At his home in Dundee yesterday Steven’s father Billy said he had only learned of his son’s award after speaking to him on the phone after the presentation.

“Obviously I’m very proud of him and the things he has been doing,” he said.

“I knew nothing about the medal—he doesn’t mention these things. I knew he had been involved in the incident where Private Ferns died, but apart from that didn’t know any more.

“Steven is very modest and this won’t change him a bit.”

Lance-Corporal Leslie is en route to Dundee on leave, where he will get the chance to catch up with his father, girl friend Nikki , his two sisters and brother.

Meanwhile, a 56-year-old Royal Marines reservist, who served with Arbroath-based 45 Commando in the early 1980s and was with 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands war, has been awarded the George Medal for his courage while serving with United Nations peace-keeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo last year.

Colonel Paul Anthony Jobbins was responsible for tactical control of all UN forces in Bukavu, the major city in the eastern Congo, when fighting broke out and the city fell to insurgents in June.

As women were raped, children murdered and homes pillaged, the unarmed colonel put himself at great risk to conduct negotiations with faction commanders, arrange the withdrawal of all forces and rescue UN personnel and Congolese civilians.

He drove through crossfire to meet a dissident general, persuaded him to halt his advance, and personally rescued many terrified civilians, often under fire.

He personally ensured the safety of thousands of civilians.

Colonel Jobbins, from Bristol, joined the Royal Marines Reserve Bristol as a recruit in 1972, completing his commando training the following year, and was commissioned in 1975.

He was awarded the Reserve Decoration in 1983 and a bar to this award in 1993. He assumed command of RMR Bristol in 1994 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and in 2001 was appointed as Royal Marines reserve colonel, the most senior RMR post.

He received the OBE in the golden jubilee honours list in 2003.

In his civilian occupation he served as a fingerprint officer with Avon and Somerset Constabulary until his retirement in 2001, and with the support of the police he was able to make a substantial commitment to Royal Marines Reserve Bristol, holding a number of training appointments in the unit and serving with the regular Royal Marines.

He served with 45 Commando in Northern Ireland in 1981 and with 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands War in 1982.

In 1999 he led a Royal Marines training team in Egypt working alongside Egyptian regulars.

On his return to the UK he volunteered for mobilisation for operations in Bosnia, serving two tours consecutively.

His citation states, “Recognised by all United Nations personnel in Bukavu, civil and military alike, as one of the few United Nations’ officers with commitment and courage, his gallant leadership under fire inspired renewed confidence of those around him.

“Despite being threatened personally by both factions, his negotiating skills contributed directly to the successful outcome of the Bukavu crisis and he personally ensured the safety of thousands of innocent civilians.

“Unarmed, Colonel Jobbins’ repeatedly gallant actions throughout the crisis were in the finest traditions of the British armed forces and clearly went well beyond the normal limits of United Nations peacekeeping.”