THE Elizabeth Cross has been presented to the family of a serviceman and former Wisbech Grammar School pupil who was killed in a helicopter crash.

Major Christopher Dockerty was killed in 1994 after the Chinook helicopter he was travelling in crashed on the West Coast of Scotland.

He was honoured at a special ceremony last week, where his family were presented with the Elizabeth Cross and a Memorial Scroll.

After being educated at Wisbech Grammar School, Mr Dockerty joined the Army in 1982, transferring from the Royal Navy to the Military Academy at Sandhurst.

He was commissioned into the Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire on the 24 March 1983. He joined the 1st Battalion the Prince of Wales Own in Berlin in April 1983 before being deployed in Northern Ireland as a Platoon Commander.

He was promoted to Captain in 1985 and went on to become a Major in 1992. In January 1993 he was posted to HQ Northern Ireland.

The Major’s father, John Dockerty, collected the award from Lord Tollemache, the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, at the ceremony held at Wattisham Airfield.

Brigadier Andrew Williams, Commander of 49 (East) Brigade, at Wattisham Flying Station, said: “This event is about the families present, all of whom have lost a loved one on active service on behalf of this country, and it is an opportunity for the country to demonstrate recognition of that loss.”

The Elizabeth Cross was introduced in 2009 to give recognition to bereaved families. All families of soldiers killed on operations or as a result of terrorist actions since January 1, 1948 are eligible to receive the Elizabeth Cross.