The King's Gallantry Medal is awarded to civilians for acts of exemplary bravery - the next, and highest honor which can be awarded to civilians, being the George Medal.  The investiture itself was held at Buckingham Palace in mid December.

Lawrie Elsdon-Dew (FH 06-11) was on his first overseas posting when, on the morning of 15 April 2023, intense fighting erupted in Sudan’s capital Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Residents of the city, including British Embassy staff and families, found themselves in the midst of all-out urban warfare. When the fighting began, Mr Elsdon-Dew was at home a few miles from the Embassy. He drove through the fighting to the Embassy/Residence compound, and took shelter there together with a number of Embassy staff and families, who had been in or next to the compound when the conflict started. The area around the compound rapidly became the scene of the fiercest fighting, involving not just intensive small arms fire but also the widespread and indiscriminate use of artillery. Throughout the nine day ordeal, Mr Elsdon-Dew was a model of courage, commitment and professionalism, establishing himself as the leader of the group trapped at the Embassy/Residence compound and volunteering to lead on a range of difficult and dangerous tasks. These tasks required regular movement between Embassy buildings and included leaving the compound on foot to assist a diplomatic spouse who, having been evicted from their place of shelter, had suffered a panic attack on their way to the Embassy. Mr Elsdon-Dew escorted them to safety at great personal risk to himself. 

Lawrie has built an impressive career since leaving Tonbridge in 2011, from where he earned a place at Pembroke College, Oxford to study Theology.  Upon completing his studies, in May 2015, Lawrie joined the Prime Minister’s Office at 10 Downing Street, serving as a Special Advisor in the correspondence department under David Cameron.

In 2016/17, Lawrie pursued a Master’s degree in International Relations at St Andrews University, Scotland. Following his postgraduate studies, he returned to government service, joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2017. There, he dedicated two years to mastering Arabic, including time spent studying in Jordan.

From 2020 to 2023, Lawrie undertook his first diplomatic posting at the UK Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan that culminated in the revolution in May 2023.

Since returning to the UK, Lawrie has worked in the Political Unit of the Foreign Office. His expertise has now earned him the role of Head of the Political Team at the British Consulate in Jerusalem, a position he will assume in 2026.

Lawrie’s distinguished career, coupled with his bravery in recent service, exemplifies a commitment to public duty and international diplomacy.