British Army officer 'kidnapped and beaten' during peacekeeping mission in South Sudan

A British Army officer was kidnapped at gunpoint and beaten up while leading a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, defence officials have revealed.

Colonel Edward Dawes, now 45, had his teeth smashed and was questioned for hours after being stopped at an unregistered checkpoint.

His ordeal emerged when he was presented with an OBE for his peacekeeping role with the United Nations. No details of how he escaped were given.

Colonel Edward Dawes (pictured), now 45, had his teeth smashed and was questioned for hours after being stopped at an unregistered checkpoint

He was Chief of Staff for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) project, leading a 12,500-strong international military mission, which included 300 British troops.

Colonel Dawes was taken from his vehicle in May 2014 just six weeks into his year-long tour.

He explained: ‘(I was) dragged out of my vehicle, beaten and abducted, I was subjected to tactical questioning for some hours before I managed to escape to my vehicle. I managed to shake off the guard and jump into my vehicle and drive through the barrier.

‘It was quite something. After the beating I found myself on my knees with the muzzle of a gun in my mouth, and I could feel the broken teeth with my tongue.

He was Chief of Staff for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) project, leading a 12,500-strong international military mission, which included 300 British troops (file picture of

‘I remember thinking this is curious, and feeling really annoyed that this guy had broken my teeth and potentially ruined my smile.

‘I wasn’t focusing on the fact that the back of my head might disappear. I count myself lucky that I got out of that.’

The award is said to recognise the ‘demonstrable difference’ he made in the area ‘during a very testing and dangerous time’.