AN Oxfordshire-based bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan is to be awarded a second George Medal.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Gary O’Donnell, of Didcot-based 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Regiment, will be the first serviceman in 28 years to be awarded the medal twice.

The father-of-four died while trying to defuse a Taliban bomb alone and without body armour in Musah Qaleh, Helmand Province, in September last year.

The 40-year-old previously won the George Medal — awarded for extreme bravery not in the face of the enemy — after making safe similar devices in southern Iraq in 2006.

He will become only the 22nd person to receive a bar to his medal — the equivalent of receiving it twice.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said WO O’Donnell, from Leamington Spa, was awarded the posthumous medal for the work he was doing when he died.

Army officials said WO O’Donnell was approaching a booby-trapped bomb to try to clear a path for fellow soldiers when it detonated and killed him.

He had been commanding a team of specialist bomb disposal engineers and was nearing the end of his six-onth tour of duty.

Last night, Major John Balding GM, of 11 EOD Regiment, which is part of the Royal Logisitic Corps based at Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot, said: “Being publicly recognised by the award of a bar to his George Medal reflects his bravery and selfless commitment to the Army and his colleagues.

“It is a tremendous tribute and I know all the members of the regiment are extremely proud of our fallen colleague.”

After WO O’Donnell’s death, his wife Toni said: “Gary was living the dream and we are all very proud of who he was and he will be missed greatly.”

Lieutenant Colonel Dave Wilson, commander of the EOD’s Joint Force Engineer Group, said WO O’Donnell was an “amazing man”.

Lt Col Wilson added: “The danger to his own life rarely seemed to affect him. Men of this calibre are extremely rare.”

Mrs O’Donnell will collect the award from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The George Medal is the second highest honour for courage away from the face of the enemy, sitting below the George Cross.

The last double winner of the George Medal was Army bomb disposal expert Peter Gurney, who received the medals for work in Northern Ireland and London.

ghamilton@oxfordmail.co.uk