Meritorious Service Medal
- Awarded on: March 15, 2010
- Invested on: November 02, 2010
Rank: Major
While deployed to Afghanistan from August 2006 to February 2007, Major Abthorpe was instrumental to the success of counter-insurgency operations in Kandahar province. As a company commander during intense combat, his sound tactical acumen and courage under fire enabled his company to seize and hold key terrain despite being isolated from the larger Canadian battle group and being in constant contact with the enemy. These daring independent advances helped secure the battle group’s flanks and enabled a
full-scale attack that defeated the enemy in the region.
