A HEROIC young soldier from Saltash is to receive a top military award after repeatedly risking his life to save wounded comrades.

Rifleman Peter Matthews, pictured left, who serves with 4th Battalion the Rifles, dodged bullets and ran the risk of stepping on improvised explosive devices (IEDs) not once but three times to aid other soldiers.

For his efforts in Afghanistan earlier this year and late last year he will receive the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

According to his citation the 21-year-old former Saltash.net Community School pupil demonstrated 'exceptional levels of gallantry'.

"To carry out such actions would be noteworthy; to have done this three times is quite extraordinary.

"His behaviour throughout has been utterly selfless. His first-aid skills have undoubtedly saved lives: and he has done it all in the face of a persistent enemy threat that has been both seen and unseen, across a time period that would have worn down a lesser man.

"Such consistent and repeated acts of bravery, professional skill, initiative and particularly leadership totally unexpected of one so young and inexperienced deserve singular recognition."

Last year Rfn Matthews was part of an operation to clear a dangerous area of Sangin.

During the patrol his platoon found six IEDs, and a bomb disposal team came to clear the devices. During the bomb disposal one of the devices exploded, fatally wounding one soldier.

Rfn Matthews organised a three-man team which moved across open ground to treat the casualty.

He recovered the casualty and led the extraction of his two colleagues who were assisting him.

In another incident, again on patrol in Sangin, Rfn Matthews' platoon was involved in sporadic firefights and had found several IEDs when two members of the attached Afghan team detonated IEDs. He moved quickly across open and uncleared ground to the scene of the blast to administer life-saving first aid until the medic arrived.

Earlier this year Rfn Matthews' platoon again came under small arms fire, and an Afghan soldier working with his section accidentally detonated an IED.

Once again Rfn Matthews was first to the scene, administering first aid to the injured soldier while under fire from the enemy, almost certainly saving his life.

Prior to joining the Army Rfn Matthews worked in the kitchens at the Ploughboy Inn, Saltash.

His parents, Tony and Rose, live in the town.

Rfn Matthews was one of more than 130 servicemen to be honoured with awards on the Operational Honours and Awards list which was announced today.

The citations cover operations in Afghanistan on the Herrick 11 deployment and also include awards earned elsewhere in the world.