Posted on 04/05/2005 6:00:46 AM PDT by tjwmason
Ginnie Mottram, a TA captain who has been made an MBE, tells Judith Woods about a soldier's life in Iraq
Ginnie Mottram ushers me into her south London flat and bustles about the kitchen, making coffee. In one corner of the living room stands an ironing board, complete with Cath Kidston-style floral cover. On the windowsill is a framed photograph of Mottram with a friend, evidently heading off to a ball. But as she re-enters the room, my eye falls on the Army uniform hanging from the banister, and the mugs she is carrying bear the legend "OpTelic Iraq 2003".
Mottram with children in Iraq (left), and in civvies
"Every Army operation has its own code name. It just means you've been out to Iraq," says Mottram, who works as a supervisory engineer for Metronet, one of the rail consortia operating London Underground.
Mottram's time in Iraq has just been commemorated by something rather more impressive than a mug: this 29-year-old Territorial Army captain with the Royal Engineers was appointed an MBE in the recent awards for bravery and distinguished service.
Of 101 awards, just six were given to reservists from the Territorial Army. Only two women were given awards: Mottram and a lance corporal from the Royal Army Medical Corps. Gallantry medals are typically given to frontline soldiers who demonstrate outstanding courage in the heat of battle. Honours such as the MBE are awarded for longer-term service under dangerous conditions.
Mottram's MBE was made in recognition of her outstanding work in Dhi Qar province, where she was placed in charge of co-ordinating $12 million worth of projects crucial to civilian life and, hence, political stability in the region. Working in an extremely hostile environment, often under fire, she showed great bravery as she set about restoring drinking water supplies, organising the refurbishment of hospitals and schools and building new government offices.
She was seconded to Iraq's interim government, the Coalition Provisional Authority, in March 2004. " When I got to Nasiriyah, I realised the problems were much greater than were previously thought," she says. "There was corruption, there were no proper systems in place and the culture of bribery was rife among many of the Iraqi contractors."
For four-and-a-half months, Mottram and five other British troops lived in primitive conditions in a small compound, guarded by Italian soldiers. During that time, insurgents stepped up their campaign against the allies. Civilian crowds, angry at the slow pace of change, demonstrated at the gates.
"We were shot at and subjected to mortar attacks, which caused serious injuries to the Italian guards. One night, four RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades] landed in the compound," says Mottram. "I was sleeping with my body armour and helmet next to the camp bed when the first one landed, and I grabbed them and lay on the floor. When something like that happens, you just lie there, waiting and wondering where the next one will land, hoping it won't hit you. It's very frightening."
But Mottram, who was promoted to captain in the field, acquitted herself with honour. One official report refers to her as having "performed impeccably, maintaining the aim of the mission and leading both her military and civilian colleagues with great fortitude and courage".
The document goes on: "Capt Mottram has during this tour displayed all the attributes expected of an officer with many years more experience than her substantive range would indicate... The corps could do with other officers of her quality."
Mottram is the sort of person to give zeal a good name. She is strikingly attractive, with lively brown eyes and a mane of glossy dark hair, and her description of herself as an "outdoor type" is an understatement. She reels off a list of her favourite pursuits - running, cycling, surfing, sailing, riding and yomping across moors.
"When I first signed up for the Territorial Army, I didn't think any further than 'This is fun'," she says. "I've always been willing to give anything a go, from ballet classes at school to leaping off cliffs when I was studying engineering at Camborne School of Mining in Cornwall. Joining the TA offered me a chance to do different things, to be challenged and to meet like-minded people who have a can-do attitude.
"When I heard I was being sent out to Iraq, I was torn between thinking 'This will be an incredible experience' and 'Oh God, am I really up to it?' I didn't want to come across as some Dad's Army type - a bumbling part-timer - because that's been some people's perception of the TA."
The Iraq war has overturned many misconceptions about the Territorial Army. The mobilisation of reservists was the biggest since the Suez crisis in 1956. About 9,000 reservists have served in Iraq, out of a total of 65,000 service personnel.
The TA has 31,200 reservists and forms 25 per cent of the British Army. There are 1,050 female officers and 1,850 women hold other ranks. The TA can be called upon to provide entire units, or individual specialists in logistics, communications, IT or medicine. Its members hold down day jobs and are committed to training 13 weekends a year. In the theatre of war, they work alongside regular soldiers, doing the same duties and taking the same risks.
Growing up with two brothers in a village on the Hampshire-Surrey border accustomed Mottram to the rough-and-tumble of male company from an early age. In Nasiriyah, where a key part of her role was to train Iraqi engineers, she was unperturbed about being in charge of a team of male civilians. "I did wonder whether I ought to cover my head, but in the end I was never seen in civilian clothes," she says. "I was in uniform, with my hair tied back, and I was viewed as a British officer, not Ginnie Mottram."
Photographs from her time in Iraq show Mottram smiling and at ease with local people. In one picture, she is surrounded by a crowd of fascinated little girls, while on a visit to a school.
It comes as no surprise to learn that Mottram got on so well with the Iraqi engineers under her that they remain in regular contact by e-mail. "The Iraqis are more sophisticated people than they are often given credit for. They have access to the internet and are familiar with lots of projects in Britain and worldwide, so we had, and still have, lots to talk about."
Mottram was 22 when she first came across a Royal Engineers stand at an engineering trade show. She watched them build a bridge and was impressed less by the finished result than the skilful communication and fluid teamwork that led to construction. She attended several pre-recruitment weekends, where the emphasis on fitness suited her energetic personality. After a basic recruitment course, she joined as a sapper, the Royal Engineers' equivalent of a private. After two years of regular training and exercises, she attended courses at the London Officer Training Corps and Sandhurst. She was tempted to join the Army full time, but decided she preferred to "have the best of both worlds" and maintain her engineering career on civvy street.
At first, her family and friends were quite nonplussed by her sudden interest in playing war games on Salisbury Plain.
"My grandfather was in the RAF - I've since learnt he was made an MBE, too - but there was no other connection to the Armed Forces," says Mottram. "Initially, my friends thought the TA was just another of my enthusiasms, but as they saw how I was gradually changing in a very fundamental way, they took it more seriously.
"I used to be a terrible timekeeper, and was always late for everything. I didn't take care of my appearance and would think nothing of wearing a crumpled shirt. But as I became more disciplined and started doing things like polishing my shoes, they could see the influence the Army was having on me - and they liked it."
Despite her naturally authoritative air, Mottram credits her military training with giving her the boost in self-confidence that helped her leadership qualities to emerge. In a letter written by a senior Army adviser, Mottram and her staff sergeant are spoken of in glowing terms.
"When there was incoming fire, they switched calmly from their project roles to manning a weapon on the roof, performing all-night sentry duties, then returning by day to project management," it says. "We are very impressed by their courage, dedication, leadership and sense of duty and are very grateful to them."
These days, Mottram is back at her day job, where she is involved in a major underground development project at King's Cross. She doesn't yet know when she will be summoned to Buckingham Palace to pick up her award. Typically, the prospect doesn't worry her in the slightest.
"I'm looking forward to it," she says, her eyes widening in anticipation. "I still can't quite believe it's going to happen, but I'm sure it will be an amazing occasion. I'm not nervous - I've always believed in jumping straight in."
TA=National Guard or Reserves ?
You're right
I believe it is "Territorial Army"
A rough equivalent of the Guard/Reserve
Would the Queen herself bestow the MBE, or is it typically done by some lesser personage?
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