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Darrell Smith receives bravery award on brothers behalf

3 July 2012

Malaghan Institute Operations Manager Darrell Smith was presented with the Charles Upham Award for Bravery at Government House today, an award given posthumously to his brother Lance Corporal Leon Smith (pictured left) in recognition of his heroism during a rescue mission near Kabul in August last year.  Leon was killed two months later during a separate SAS raid in Afghanistan.

This was an emotional experience for the Smith family, who said "they can take some comfort from knowing that he [Leon] was a valued member of the NZ Defence Force and that his outstanding bravery has subsequently been recognised."

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Read about the award on TVNZ ONE NEWS, where you can also view a video clip of Leon's mother and the Prime Minister John Key speaking about Leon.

Read the full details of the presentation ceremony on The Governor-General website.