Major Ian Crowley (39) received the medal - one of Britain's highest military honours - in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, watched by his proud parents Allan and Audrey Crowley, and wife Clare.

Major Crowley, formerly Commander of C Company of the Yorkshire Regiment, spent seven months serving in the Basra region of southern Iraq.

Last January he spearheaded an operation to capture suspected criminals believed to have acted violently against security forces. Despite the troops coming under heavy fire from small arms, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, they were able to fight their way inside homes in Basra and capture criminals and death squad members.

Major Crowley was honoured for his contribution to the operation, his citation stating that he 'inspired his company with his determination and courage throughout a relentless tempo of operations, resulting in the detention of 18 high value targets, numerous militias and the recovery of substantial amounts of enemy weapons and explosives’.

He has paid tribute to the professionalism of his soldiers, and the humour with which they carried out their tasks, despite the danger.

Major Crowley, a former pupil of St Nicholas Primary and Beverley Grammar schools, said the medal presentation was a day he will never forget.

"It was amazing. There were something like 115 recipients, from all walks of life. We waited in the Picture Gallery until we were called and there was clearly a good atmosphere, because everyone was getting some sort of award," he said.

"It was really interesting chatting to the other people and I was really touched that quite a few people came and shook my hand, which I wasn't expecting. Prince Charles clearly takes his role very seriously and he had read every citation. I was the last up, and it was a bit like being back at school, waiting to be picked for the football team.

"Prince Charles said he thought it was tremendous what I and the company had done and it had clearly been a very intensive and dangerous tour. He was very well informed and seemed genuinely pleased that he was presenting the award."

After the presentation, Major Crowley and his family were called over by the private secretary of the Duke of York, who is colonel in chief of the regiment.

"He called us in for drinks with his staff, which added to the occasion," said Major Crowley, who is now training troops who are deploying to Iraq in his new role as formation and unit training advisor with the operational training advisory group.