Three crewmen from RNAS Culdrose have been awarded a top honour while serving onboard the RFA Argus.

Leading Airman (Survival Equipment) Dave Jackson, 29, Petty Officer (Air crewman) Diccon Griffith, 36, Petty Officer (Aircraft Engineering Mechanic) Stephen Thornhill, 42, have been presented with the Brigadier’s Commendation for their work raising money for an education charity in Sierra Leone.

The men are all with 820 Naval Air Squadron, currently deployed to assist the fight against Ebola in West Africa.

In just over three months of their deployment they have raised more than £9,000 from colleagues onboard and families back home through a Facebook page.

They have then given the money to EducAid – a UK based charity which promotes the education of young people affected by war and Ebola in Sierra Leone.

The Brigadier’s Commendations were presented by the captain of RFA Argus, Captain David Buck, onboard the ship.

Receiving his commendation, PO Thornhill, who lives in Helston, said: “I was honoured to receive the Commendation on behalf of the aircraft engineering team; the work being carried out continues to be second to none.”

LA Jackson raised more than £800 alone by cutting hair on board in return for a donation.

He was also instrumental in setting up a flight deck reindeer race on Christmas Eve that raised another £900.

Day to day, the fundraising members of 820 Squadron are involved in engineering activities to ensure the ship’s three Merlin helicopters are available for service, flying supplies and personnel to more remote parts of Sierra Leone.

So far the Merlin helicopters, flown by Royal Navy pilots, have clocked up more than 550 flying hours flown since leaving Falmouth last October.

Commander Ross Spooner, commanding officer of 820 Squadron, said: “I’m particularly pleased that the engineering team’s sustained efforts over the last three months, working eight hours on, eight hours off in arduous conditions has been formally acknowledged.

“This has been a superb performance from a highly skilled, well-motivated and particularly proficient group.”

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