An army reserve medic has been awarded a military honour after saving the lives of Afghan soldiers while under fire from Taliban fighters - on his first tour.

Corporal Ben Spittle, 30, from Dartford, a reservist with the Royal Army Medical Corps, treated 15 casualties after a fire fight broke out during an operation to destroy Taliban strongholds in Yakhchal, Helmand.

Inside a small compound Ben battled desperately to save the lives of seriously wounded soldiers while rocket-propelled grenades rained down.

With basic supplies he treated multiple gunshots, catastrophic bleeding, shattered femurs, sucking chest wounds and compound fractures.

At one point he even drilled through a shin bone to insert an intravenous line.

For his incredible bravery and composure, Ben was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service.

"A trauma scene is big and scary with lots of blood and screaming but you have a pattern to follow and if you do that it falls into place" - Ben

He collected the honour at Lancaster House before a reception at Downing Street, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Ben said: "I guess I got lucky. Any other day, things could have gone differently.

"I had never been in a war zone before but with the guys around me I never felt threatened.

"In addition, the training I received couldn't have been any better and it really prepared me for what lay ahead.

"This is what I signed up to do and it was a case of put up or shut up.

"A trauma scene is big and scary with lots of blood and screaming but you have a pattern to follow and if you do that it falls into place.

"In addition, I was massively helped by the professionalism of the Mercian soldiers and despite the language barrier with the Afghans, we were able to stay on top of the situation."

The London Ambulance Service paramedic joked the toughest problem he faced was when his protection glasses began to steam up.

He added: "I had to take them off so I could see but because they were on elastic they were hanging over my mouth making it difficult to breathe normally.

"I was thinking ‘this is just what I need!

"There are a lot of similarities between my Army and civilian jobs but my experience in Afghanistan has given me massive extra confidence to take back to my job with the ambulance service."

The Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service recognises meritorious service during or in support of operations.