EACH time the stepson of Orpington MP John Horam travels by air he gets a startling reminder of his heroic role in an African conflict.

Captain (Acting Major) Lincoln Jopp always sets the alarm off when he goes through airport controls - because he still has shrapnel in his head.

The 30-year-old's bravery in the face of hundreds of armed rebels while in Sierra Leone won him the rare and highly prestigious Military Cross which was presented by the Queen at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace in December. Mr Horam said: "My wife and I are very proud. I think Lincoln felt honoured."

His stepson, who is also a member of the Orpington branch of the Royal British Legion, was deployed in Freetown, Sierra Leone with the Scots Guards in March 1997, but his work was cut short when the democratically-elected government was overthrown by rebel soldiers on May 25.

After the coup, Freetown was a dangerous place. Shooting was indiscriminate, locals were killed, women raped and about 50 British homes were looted and ransacked.

Mr Horam said: "We were worried when we heard about the rebellion. But we were terrified when we got the phone call saying he was right in the middle of it."

While Mr Jopp liaised with Nigerian forces at Mammy Yoko hotel, they were attacked by rebel Sierra Leone soldiers. Mr Jopp found himself advising a Nigerian colonel on how to defend their position in the face of intense shelling.

The onslaught left Mr Jopp with shrapnel wounds and facial burns. His hearing was damaged by the back-blast of a rocket propelled grendade. President of Orpington British Legion John Lammas said: "We are proud of him in the branch. It's not an honour which is conferred often."

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