Video: Honour for Yorkshire hero who defied Taliban bombers

Sergeant Major Karl Ley, 29, from Sheffield, receives the George Medal for his service in Afghanistan, where he made safe 139 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in six months – more than twice as many as any other bomb disposal expert.

Other soldiers from the region receiving honours include Lance Corporal Jamie Hastie, 20, from Scarborough, who overcame his own injuries to save the life of his section commander after they were wounded by an IED in Helmand Province.

Rifleman Ross Robinson, 21, who served with the 4th Battalion The Rifles, is posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for bravery after he carried on detecting Taliban land mines despite being severely wounded.

He suffered spinal injuries when another soldier 10 yards in front of him set off an IED. With his section commander also wounded and unconscious, he ignored his own severe pain to pick himself up and clear a safe route to the casualties.

He gave them first aid and then cleared an area for the rescue vehicle. Once loaded, he carried on, clearing a route to the landing site where he lifted the casualties onto the helicopter.

Back at base, he succumbed to his own injuries, and an X-ray revealed he required immediate evacuation. Rifleman Robinson, from Leeds, was killed in a road accident in the UK the day after he was discharged after treatment at the military's Headley Court rehabilitation centre.

Corporal Liam Riley, who served with 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment/Duke of Wellington's, is to be posthumously awarded a Mention in Despatches for gallantry while serving in southern Afghanistan.

The 21-year-old, from Sheffield, was killed in an explosion while trying to assist a wounded colleague.

Of the 133 servicemen and women recognised today, Rifleman Robinson and Cpl Riley are among nine to be honoured posthumously. The awards will be presented at a later date.

On one operation Sgt Maj Ley defused 42 IEDs in only 72 hours, and at times he had to clear bombs while positioned only 100ft from falling insurgent mortars and gunshots.

But the married father-of-three played down his bravery, and said he planned to celebrate with "a few beers" and possibly a trip to a Sheffield Wednesday match.

"If you're being shot at, you get down on the deck," he said. "So you might as well get rid of the bomb while you're down there."

L/Cpl Hastie, of 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment/Duke of Wellington's, is awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for saving the life of his section commander, Corporal Andy Reid, when he stepped on an IED on October 13, last year.

The young soldier was himself wounded but ignored his injuries to give Cpl Reid first aid and then help carry his stretcher.

Corporal Robert Tordoff, 29, from Otley, is to be awarded a Mention in Despatches for filling in craters caused by IEDs under enemy fire.