Mother receives Elizabeth Cross to recognise her son who was killed in the Gulf War

Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

A mother from Washington has received an Elizabeth Cross to recognise the sacrifice her son made when he died in the Gulf War.

Twenty five years after Flt Lft Norman Thomas Dent was killed in the Gulf, his mother Cynthia was presented with the Elizabeth Cross during a ceremony in Sunderland.

Norman joined the RAF after finishing his degree

Norman Thomas Dent was just 27 when he was killed as his Tornado crashed on a low level training mission in 1991.

Norman died on a training mission in 1991.

The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll are granted to the next of kin of UK Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations in national recognition of their loss.

Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

The Elizabeth Cross is not a posthumous medal for the fallen. It was created specifically to recognise the challenges service personnel face, and the burden placed on service families.

Cynthia and her son John said they appreciate the recognition, even though they would rather not be in the position.