b. 1978 Cambridge.
DATE OF CGC ACTION: 2007 Basra, Iraq.
James A Wadsworth MBE CGC
James Wadsworth enlisted with the Royal Logistics Corps in 1996, and trained to be an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operator. During his 29 years worth of service he has completed multiple tours including, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In 2007, he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for rendering safe, by hand, and recovering one of the largest bombs ever found in Basra, Iraq. His extraordinary, selfless courage saved a nearby hospital and prevented potentially severe and untold consequences.
In 2019, he was awarded the MBE for his services to the armed forces and to military charities for whom, to date, he has raised over £100,000. He supports the Combat Stress charity, for whom he took part in the inaugural Race to Remember Ultramarathon, completing a 76km race in just 7 hours and 15 minutes. He is now a Challenge Ambassador for Combat Stress, running webinars and providing support for participants of various events including the London Marathon. He has also arranged vital corporate introductions that have been invaluable to the charity’s fundraising and awareness raising efforts.Together with his partner Steph, he took on Combat Stress’ D-Day 44 Challenge in June 2024, a 44-mile ultramarathon across the Normandy beaches to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
He is also heavily involved in Felix Fund, a charity for those affected by Explosive Ordnance Disposal. In 2016, he completed the unforgiving Marathon des Sables (over 156 miles across the Saharan Desert) to raise £1,206 for the cause. In 2017, he teamed up with 19 other EOD experts to cover 1,500 miles by bike for the Tour de Troops Challenge. The Challenge took them from Edinburgh to Bielefeld in Germany.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: WITH RECIPIENT.
