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Birthday Honour for Brimpton Reservist
15 June 2016
A Berkshire Naval Reservist who served in the Gulf has been recognised for his public service in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2016.
Commander James Cohen, from Brimpton, near Aldermaston, was awarded the Queen’s Volunteer Reserve Medal (QVRM) after retiring in March following 37 years in the Royal Naval Reserve.
He said that the award was “very surprising and rather humbling.”
Cdr Cohen, who was mobilised to the Gulf in 2011, headed up the Maritime Trade Organisation, a branch of specialist Reservists who provide Royal Navy support to merchant shipping in hotspot areas.
I originally joined up because my father and grandfather were both in the Reserves, you could say it’s slightly genetic.
Cdr Cohen said: ‘I originally joined up because my father and grandfather were both in the Reserves, you could say it’s slightly genetic."
When not serving with the Reserves, James works as an IT consultant with Hewlett-Packard Enterprise.
The QVRM is awarded to members of the Reserve Forces for exemplary meritorious service in the conduct of their duties.
Cdr Cohen joins many other members of the Naval Service have been granted state honours for their work in the Armed Forces or other aspects of UK defence.