The Queen commemorated the exploits of 20 men who displayed conspicuous courage in the worst possible circumstances during the Piper Alpha disaster.
Seven received the George Medal – Britain’s highest civilian award – two of them after giving up their lives in the fight to save others from the blazing wreckage.
Eight were awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal and five the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct – three posthumously.
The George Medals went to the fast rescue boat crews of the former trawler Silver Pit and the supply vessel Sandhaven, who surged into action just minutes after the first explosion.
Gourdon-based Iain Letham, who was 29 at the time he received the award in 1990, was the sole survivor of the FRB despatched from the Sandhaven into the danger zone.
He told the Press and Journal at the time: “It was the job that we were there to do. We were going through our procedures and doing exactly what we were trained to do.
“But I don’t think anybody who was involved will ever forget that night. Obviously, I am very proud and I must admit I was quite overawed when I learned about the award.
“But everybody involved in the rescue – all those on stand-by vessels and the rescuers on the rig – did a tremendous job on what was one of the worst nights of their lives.”
Mr Letham was thrown clear by a blast which melted his lifejacket and was in the water for an hour before being picked up.
He died of cancer in 2017.
Crewmates Malcolm Storey, from Alness, and Brian Batchelor, from Scunthorpe, were awarded George Medals posthumously.
Mr Storey’s widow, Susan, said: “It was just his nature – if anybody was in trouble, he would always be the first to help.”
And Mr Batchelor’s mother, Pheobe Drew, said while nothing could compensate for the loss of her son, she was “very proud and overwhelmed” at the honour.
Another George Medal recipient was deckhand Andrew Kiloh, from Aberdeen.
A fisherman for almost 20 years, he was one of the heroes who pulled survivor after survivor from the sea as the inferno raged around them.
He subsequently suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, but spoke movingly about his award.
He said: “I just couldn’t believe it. I knew many of the rescuers would probably receive something, but I didn’t dream it would be the George Medal.
“You really do not think about what you are doing in these circumstances, because you never think something like this will happen in the first place.
“It was just a case of getting my act together and trying my best to rescue as many people as possible.”
Full list of honours
George Medal
Brian Philip Batchelor (posthumous), Hull
James Herbert Clark, Dundee
Charles Alexander Haffey, Methil
Andrew James Kiloh, Aberdeen
Iain Letham, Gourdon
James Paul McNeill, Oban
Malcolm John Storey (posthumous), Alness
Queen’s Gallantry Medal
John Barr, Turnberry
Donald Brown, Glenrothes
Edward Cross, Aberdeen
Christopher Michael Dunwoody, Great Malvern
William John Flaws, Buckie
Ian Fraser Mackay, Kilwinning
Stanley Roderick Mackenzie Macleod, Southampton
Peter Thomas, Plymouth
Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct
Barry Charles Barber (posthumous), Stranraer
Robert Carroll (posthumous), Culter
William Francis Clayton, Newcastle
Gareth Paul Parry Davies, Colchester
Robert Argo Vernon, Falkirk
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