Elizabeth Cross medal presented to proud family of fallen Royal Marine

A proud mother was presented with the Elizabeth Cross in memory and recognition of her late son to serve as a “reminder of his loyalty and sacrifice”.

Carol Summers received the medal to honour Marine Scott Summers’ service and dedication to the Royal Marines and Armed Forces.

“This award, although very belated, simply serves as a reminder of Scott, our continual love for him as a family and a reminder of the importance of him within all our lives,” she said.

Marine Summers joined the Royal Marines in January 2005 and deployed with J Company, 42 Commando, to Helmand Province in Afghanistan in October 2006.

He sustained serious injuries in a road traffic accident during a routine convoy while on tour in 2007.

After initial treatment in Afghanistan, Mne Summers was transported back to a specialist unit in the UK where he died, aged only 23.

Mrs Summers added: “Scott was funny, mischievous, loyal, loving and, in short, an amazing young man who had found his second family within the Royal Marines – a family with whom we were and still are so very proud to share him with.”

Constable of the Tower of London General Sir Gordon Messenger, alongside representatives from the Royal Marines, presented Mrs Summers with the Elizabeth Cross.

Mne Summers was described as a “real character within his company, with a sharp sense of humour”.

The Royal Navy said: “He was regularly employed as a driver, where he was engaged in the most demanding circumstances in difficult weather, terrain and, not least, when under enemy fire.”

“He had fought courageously in over 20 firefights with the Taliban.”

The Elizabeth Cross Award was introduced in 2009 and is granted to the families of Armed Forces personnel who have been killed on operations or as a result of terrorism.

It is available to the families of those who died in conflicts dating back to 1948, including the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, the Falklands conflict and operations in Northern Ireland, as well as the more recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.