TWO Lancashire soldiers have won military accolades for outstanding heroism in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Anthony Gibson, 29, from Blackburn, was Mentioned in Despatches, and Corporal Brian Gilston, 24, from Chorley, received the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

Both put their own lives at risk to save colleagues after terrible roadside bomb blasts.

According to his citation, Sgt Gibson bore ‘a burden so great it would have broken lesser men’.

While under heavy fire, he used a quad bike to rescue people on a bombed bus.

In another incident he dragged three injured colleagues to safety under fire.

Cpl Gilston rescued a comrade after their convoy had been blown up, carrying the injured man above his head to safety from a flooded ditch.

Mention in Despatches, the oldest form of recognition of gallantry in the UK forces, is an official report from a senior commander to his superiors detailing men’s conduct.

The Queen’s Commendation for Bravery is granted for ‘bravery entailing risk to life’.

Solder Anthony Gibson’s fiancée broke down in tears when she heard of his heroics.

Stacy Hobin said Sgt Gibson, with whom she has a three-year-old daughter, did not talk about his work.

And she only learned of his actions through the citation for his Mention in Dispatches.

Stacy, 27, said: “When I read what he did I was crying my eyes out. He really deserves all of the praise he gets.

“Tony doesn’t really talk about what happened because he doesn’t want to upset me. But I know he has been very brave.

"We are all so proud of what he has achieved because a Mention in Despatches is a real honour."

According to Sgt Gibson’s citation, through his actions he bore a ‘heavy burden - a burden so great it would have broken lesser men’.

Sgt Gibson, a father-of-one, was based at an isolated checkpoint with his Scot’s Guards unit in the Babaji area of Helmand province for his six month tour of Afghanistan.

During this time the insurgents used everything at their disposal to drive the platoon of men away putting them under the constant pressure of rocket-propelled grenades, machine gun and sniper fire.

In one incident and under ‘extreme danger’ the former Witton Park High School, Blackburn, pupil evacuated three injured soldiers during a gun battle, described as ‘horrendous carnage’.

In another incident, during an attack on his checkpoint, he saved the lives of women and children blown up in a roadside bomb near the base.

The civilian vehicle was caught up in an explosion and 16 men, women and small children were injured.

In spite of the risk of a secondary device, Sgt Gibson drove to the vehicle on a quad bike to rescue the injured.

He said: “I am really made up. I am shocked at getting this recognition.

"I did what I did because it was my job.

“I left with three people on the quad bike and I kept going back for more until they were all safe.”

Sgt Gibson’s citation says: “He was consistently leading by example in the face of daily attacks and horrendous carnage perpetrated by insurgent fighters.

“He showed exceptional leadership by personal example and moral and physical courage in an area described as ‘hell’.”

During the tour of duty two of his best friends and colleagues were killed, Lance Sgt Davey Walker, who lived in Shadsworth, Blackburn, and Lance Sgt Dale McCallum.

Sgt Gibson, who now lives in Preston, joined the Army in 1998.

His mother Maureen Maynard lives in Blackburn, while his twin sister Leanne Gibson, sister Lesley Ashcroft and brother Russell Greaves also live locally.

Corporal Brian Gilston showed ‘exceptional bravery’ when a routine patrol turned into disaster.

Cpl Brian Gilston, of the 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, was on patrol in the Nad-e-Ali district of central Helmand when an army vehicle was blown up by a roadside bomb.

Cpl Gilston, from Chorley, and his team went to assist when they too triggered a bomb.

The resultant blast seriously injured one of his colleagues and blew a number of others into a ditch.

Despite the risk to his own safety, Cpl Gilston jumped into the ditch and carried the men out above his head as he waded through water.

He then set about clearing a route to evacuate the casualties.

He remained behind for several hours with the rest of his patrol to protect the team clearing IEDs.

The citation states that he demonstrated ‘exceptional bravery, leadership and initiative’ and that his actions had ‘undoubtedly’ saved the life of one of his colleagues.

Brian, a former pupil of Albany High School, joined the Army in 2005.