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NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2008 5
Heroism of the
highest order
T
HE selfl ess bravery of Royal
Duncan Manning who, intriguingly, developed
Marine Matthew Croucher earned
“novel and extraordinary techniques” to undermine
him Britain’s highest honour after
insurgent troops – and safeguard his own men.
WO2 David Layton drove four times “into the
he threw himself on a grenade to killing zone” on a quad bike to pull wounded
save his comrades.
comrades to safety.
The 24-year-old lance corporal triggered a booby
And Mne Gary Ogden provided vital medical aid
trap during a nighttime patrol with 40 Commando
to nine casualties in a single action. His combination
near Sangin, in Helmand province, in February.
of bravery and medical expertise “undoubtedly saved
The green beret heard the distinctive click of a
lives”.
grenade pin and immediately saw the booby trap
Maj Dan Cheesman, who commanded Bravo
through his night vision goggles.
Company, was a “warrior and diplomat in equal
The reservist had just seven seconds to decide his
measure, defeating the Taleban time and again on the
course of action – and determine the fate of three
battlefield, whilst creating the conditions for lasting
fellow commandos on patrol with him.
development.” He is made an MBE.
They were alerted by the yell “Grenade. Take
His Commanding Officer, Lt Col Stuart Birrell,
cover!” and turned to see their fellow Royal rolling on
receives the Distinguished Service Order for
the ground, using the kit in his backpack and his body
“leadership, commitment and selfless service of the
armour to take the force of the blast.
very highest order”.
Matthew (pictured with his shredded backpack by
Mne Mkhuseli ‘Cousie’ Jones proved himself
PO(Phot) Terry Seward of DPR(N) Whitehall) was
to be “a fearless and resolute leader” who took the
thrown into the air by the resulting explosion – “the
fight to the enemy and ensured his fellow green
loudest bang I’ve ever heard” – and fully expected to
berets were safely pulled out of extreme danger on
lose a limb. “It felt like someone had run up to me
numerous occasions. He receives the Military Cross.
and kicked me in the back really hard,” he recalled.
The men of Alpha Company at Forward Operating
When he came around 30 seconds later he found
Base Inkerman “never failed to prevail in battle and
his injuries were no worse than a nosebleed and
their morale never faltered”, thanks not least to
headache. His comrades suffered minor cuts and
their CO’s “magnificent leadership”. That earns Maj
bruises. His body armour and helmet were peppered
Adrian Morley the Military Cross.
with grenade fragments.
The same award goes to Mne Richard Withers,
“I’d been through this scenario in my mind and
commander of a Viking Section, who regularly put
realised there was nowhere to take cover and no point
himself in the line of fire to support his comrades.
running,” he said.
Bravery is, of course, not confined to the unforgiving
“I thought: ‘I’ve set the bloody thing off and
Afghan terrain. The skies above it saw deeds above
I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect
and beyond the call of duty.
the others.’ It was a case of having four of us
Two naval aviators earned Mentions in Dispatches:
as fatalities or badly wounded, or just one.”
Harrier pilot Lt Cdr Toby Everitt frequently showed
“no regard for his own safety” in supporting Canadian
Although dazed, the Royal decided to remain at ground forces; he single-handedly wiped out an
the side of his comrades. Within an hour he was in enemy bomb-making command team.
action as Taleban insurgents attempted to approach His Naval Strike Wing comrade Lt Nathan
the marines’ position. Gray similarly displayed “superior skill and ice-
His bravery that fateful day – called “a bit crazy” calm leadership under the most testing of airborne
by his captain in the heat of the moment – received conditions.”
widespread media coverage with Fleet Street tipping Lt Nichol Benzie, on exchange with the RAF,
the Royal for the VC. earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for braving
The decoration turned out to be the George Cross, ferocious Taleban fire and flying his Chinook into
which, as gallantry awards go, is as coveted as the a ‘hot zone’ to rescue a critically-injured Royal
Victoria Cross; the only distinction between the two Marine; he repeated his courageous act the next day,
is that the VC can only be earned in the face of the rescuing more casualties under enemy fire – this time
enemy. compounded by a swirling dust storm.
It was, in the words of his citation, “a most Away from Afghanistan, perhaps one deed stands
deliberate act of self-sacrifice to save his comrades out especially: the efforts by four divers to save
from death or serious injury, wholly typical of the the lives of oil rig support workers when their tug
man. overturned in the Shetlands.
“His magnificent displays of selflessness and Five of the 15 crew of the Bourbon Dolphin were
gallantry are truly humbling and are the embodiment reported missing when she overturned in April last
of the finest traditions of the service.” year.
Matthew is the fi rst Royal Marine to be awarded A team from the Northern Diving Group was
the George Cross and joins an elite group of 21 immediately flown out to assist the rescue operation,
living recipients of the medal. As with all GC and VC led by WO1 Stephen Strange.
winners, he also receives an annual payment from the The four-strong team entered the upturned hull of
Crown – currently set at £1,495. the tug in conditions at the very limit of safe diving
In true RM style, the lance corporal is typically and conducted a thorough search for the missing
stoical about his actions that day. He sent a suitably crew – sadly in vain – “fully aware of their personal
low-key text message to his mum: Being put forward for peril”, with the threat of the Bourbon Dolphin
a citation, might meet the Queen… which he now will do sinking at any moment.
this autumn to receive his medal. Diver John Anderson and LD Stephane Farrell
“Being told it was on a par with the Victoria Cross earned the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery, their
was quite a shock,” Matthew said. “It’s a great honour supervisor CPO William Sharp receives a C-in-C’s
but at the same time there are a lot of other heroic acts Commendation, and WO1 Strange whose persistence
which go on in Afghanistan which go unnoticed.” and bravery were especially noteworthy receives the
He keeps his backpack, shredded by the blast, as Queen’s Gallantry Medal.
a constant reminder of the day he “beat the grim Other RN and RM personnel honoured include
reaper”. Capt David Dutton – personal advisor to the head of
Matthew’s George Cross was announced alongside the Iraqi Navy – for helping to ensure that the Royal
a raft of operational honours and decorations – Navy is the “partner of choice” in nurturing Iraq’s
with the emphasis very much on the deeds of 40 sailors and marines. He is made an OBE.
Commando and their tour of duty in Helmand. ■ See page 36 for a full list of operational
There were Mentions in Dispatches for Maj honours
Konnichiwa Kent
BLUE skies, azure waters. Yep, it’s not Blighty. This is
HMS Kent in the US Naval Base on Okinawa in Japan,
where the Type 23 frigate called in for two days to take on fuel,
water, food and other essential stores.
The visit also allowed the ship’s company to enjoy diving, golf,
swimming or simply going to one of the beautiful beaches which
characterise Okinawa.
The trip to Japan, of course, is not so Kent’s sailors can
indulge in their sporting passions and sunbathing but so she can
take part in major international war games.
Picture: LA(Phot) Owen King, FRPU East
marina Paying tribute to Exeter, page 32
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