Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry
Deacon Cutterham joined ‘the British Army on the 9th January 2000 at the age of 16 – It was my childhood dream to be a soldier and I counted down the days until my 16th birthday when I could finally sign up. My journey began at the Army Foundation College Harrogate (AFC). My intake started with 105 recruits, the course lasted almost a year and was tremendously challenging, both physically and mentally, by the end of the course there were only 23 of us left. Before I started basic-training I remember my father taking me to the train station and saying ‘This will be the hardest but the most fulfilling thing you will ever do’ – he was right!
I was the lightest boy on my intake (8 stone) and was incredibly quiet to begin with – probably as I was doing an arduous job that most grown men would struggle with. I knew even back then I had something a little extra than the rest and my instructor would say to me ‘you’re like a little piece of iron’ I took that as a compliment.
I went on to complete many overseas exercises, operational tours, arduous courses and compete in multiple sports for the British Army at a National level. The opportunities that the British Army gave me were incredible and have shaped me from a 16-year-old boy into the man I am today in so many positive ways. It has enabled me to live a life of excitement and do things most young boys only dream of.’ (Unpublished account of service provided by vendor refers)
Cutterham carried out training at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, and was posted to The Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry. In his second year at Battalion he deployed to Northern Ireland on Operation BANNER. Cutterham passed a Non Commissioned Officer cadre in order to become a Lance Corporal in 2004. He then almost immediately completed the Section Commanders Battle Course. On this arduous course he performed so well that he received a recommendation to return as an instructor. Cutterham only remained a Lance Corporal for a year, promoted to Corporal the following year - described as a ‘remarkable feat’ in his Certificate of Service.
Cutterham took the Commando Course in 2006: ‘The Commando Course was a childhood dream of mine and a course I’d longed to complete for my own development. My campaign didn’t start well as I broke my lower back on the pre-course training which meant I had to wait for the next course, which was really frustrating! Eventually, I started the course which turned out to be 11 weeks long. It did not disappoint, I really loved it and it was great fun from start to finish. The course didn’t test me much as I was exceptionally fit and already a seasoned section commander. The commando tests were great fun and I excelled at the endurance course breaking the course record. I even called in to see the camp RSM because he couldn’t believe that someone could run it that quick.’
The following year Cutterham deployed with the 1st Battalion, The Rifles to Iraq on Operation TELIC, and then almost immediately to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK. As a section commander on these two operational tours he was at the very front edge of the action, leading a section of around 8 men into combat.
During deployment, Cutterham was selected to take the Platoon Sergeants Battle Course (PSBC): ‘This course was a defining moment in my life, I felt like I had something to prove and I wanted to excel. I wanted to transfer to the Engineers as there was some politics in the Rifles. I was then promised that if I went to Iraq they would push my transfer through quicker, sadly that didn’t happen and I was on Herrick 9. Two tours back-to-back! During Herrick 9 I was offered the Platoon Sergeants Battle Course (PSBC) to entice me to stay in the Rifles. I cancelled my transfer and prepared for PSBC best I could whilst on tour.
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