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NAVY NE\ll’S, SEPTEMBER 2008

l'lBI'0lSIlIOf the HE selfless bravery of Royal Marine MatthewCroucher earned him Britain's highest honour after he threw himself on a grenade to save his comrades. The 24-year-old lance corporal triggered a booby trap during a nighttime patrol with 40 Commando near Sangin, in Helmand province, in February.

The green beret heard the distinctive click of a grenade pin and immediately saw the booby trap through his night vision goggles. The reservist had just seven seconds to decide his and determine the fate of three course of action fellow commandos on patrol with him. They were alerted by the yell “Grenade. Take cover!” and turned to see their fellow Royal rolling on the ground, using the kit in his backpackand his body armour to take the force of the blast. Matthew (piettrml wit]: his sliredded buckpaele by PO(Phor) 'Iérr_v Set:-am’ of DI’R(.\') ll’/hire/tall) was thrown into the air by the resulting explosion “the loudest bang l’\'e ever heard” and fully expected to lose a limb. “It felt like someone had run up to me and kicked me in the back really hard,” he recalled. \‘(/hen he came around 30 seconds later he found his injuries were no worse than a nosebleed and headache. His comrades suffered minor cuts and bruises. His body armour and helmet were peppered —

—

with grenade fragments.

“I’d been

through this scenario in

realised there was nowhere

running,” he said.

my mind and take cover and no point

"I thought: ‘I've set the bloody thing off and I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect the others.‘ It was a case of having four of us as fatalities or badly wounded, or just one." Although dazed, the Royal decided to remain at the side of his comrades. Within an hour he was in action as Taleban insurgents attempted to approach the marines’ position. His bravery that fateful day called “a bit crazy" by his captain in the heat of the moment received widespread media coverage with Fleet Street tipping the Royal for the VC. The decoration turned out to be the George Cross, which, as gallantry awards go, is as coveted as the Victoria Cross; the onl_v distinction between the two is that the VC can only be earned in the face of the —

—

enemy. It was, in the words of his

deliberate

act

from death man.

of sc|f—sacrifice to serious

citation, “a save

most

his comrades

injury, wholly typical

of the

magnificent displays of selflessness

“His

and

gallantry are truly humbling and are the embodiment

of the finest traditions of the service.“ Matthew is the lirst Royal Marine to be awarded the George Cross and joins an elite group of 21 living recipients of the medal. As with all GC and VC winners, he also receives an annual payment from the Crown currently set at £1,495. In true RM style, the lance corporal is typically stoical about his actions that day. He sent a suitably low-key text message to his mum: Bet.-lg ptu_fnm=artIfmwhich he now will do u ::i'l:.m'mt,might iiree! the Qrteim. this autumn to receive his medal. “Being told it was on a par with the Victoria Cross was quite a shock,” Matthewsaid. “It’s a great honour but at the same time there are a lot of other heroic acts which go on in Afghanistan which go unnoticed.” He keeps his backpack, shredded by the blast, as a constant reminder of the day he “beat the grim —

reaper".

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Manning who, intriguingly, developed

“novel and extraordinary techniques" to undermine insurgent troops and safeguard his own men. W02 David Layton drove four times “into the killing zone” on a quad bike to pull wounded comrades to safety. And Mne Gary Ogden provided vital medical aid to nine casualties in a single action. His combination of bravery and medical expertise “undoubtedly saved lives". Maj Dan Cheesman, who commanded Bravo Company, was a “warrior and diplomat in equal measure, defeating the Taleban time and again on the battlefield, whilst creating the conditions for lasting development.” He is made an MBE. His Commanding Officer, Lt Col Stuart Birrell, receives the Distinguished Service Order for “leadership, commitment and selfless service of the very highest order". Mne Mkhuseli ‘Cousie' Jones proved himself to be “a fearless and resolute leader" who took the fight to the enemy and ensured his fellow green berets were safely pulled out of extreme danger on numerous occasions. He receives the Military Cross. The men of Alpha Company at Forward Operating Base Inkerman “never failed to prevail in battle and their morale never faltered”, thanks not least to their C0's “magnificent |eadership".That earns Maj Adrian Morley the Military Cross. The same award goes to Mne Richard Withers, commander of a Viking Section, who regularly put himselfin the line of lire to support his comrades. Bravery is, of course, not confined to the unforgiving Afghan terrain. The skies above it saw deeds above and beyond the call ofduty. Two naval aviators earned Mentions in Dispatches: Harrier pilot Lt Cdr Toby Everitt frequently showed “no regard for his own safety” in supporting Canadian ground forces; he single-handedly wiped out an enemy

bomb-making command team.

His Naval Strike

Wing comrade Lt Nathan

Gray similarly displayed “superior

skill and ice-

calm leadership under the most testing of airborne conditions.” Lt Nichol Benzie, on exchange with the RAF, earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for braving ferocious Taleban fire and flying his Chinook into a ‘hot zone’ to rescue a critically-injured Royal Marine; he repeated his courageous act the next day, rescuing more casualties under enemy lire this time compounded by a swirling dust storm. Away from Afghanistan, perhaps one deed stands out especially: the efforts by four divers to save the lives of oil rig support workers when their tug overturned in the Shetlands. Five of the 1:3 crew of the Bourbon Dolphin were reported missing when she overturned in April last »

THE ROYAL NAVAL BEN EVOLENT TRUST

SUPPORTING THE RNBT FAMILY

vear.

from the Northern Diving Group was immediately flown out to assist the rescue operation, led by W01 Stephen Strange. The four—strong team entered the upturned hull of the mg in conditions at the very limit of safe diving and conducted a thorough search for the missing crew sadly in vain “fully aware of their personal peril", with the threat of the Bourbon Dolphin sinking at any moment. Diver John Anderson and LD Stephane Farrell earned the Queen's Commendation for Bravery, their supervisor CPO William Sharp receives a C-in-C’s Commendation, and W701 Strange whose persistence and bravery were especially noteworthy receives the Queen’s Gallantry Medal. Other RN and RM personnel honoured include Capt David Dutton personal advisor to the head of the Iraqi Navy for helping to ensure that the Royal Navy is the “partner of choice” in nurturing Iraq’s sailors and marines. He is made an OBE. I See page 36 for a full list of operational A

team

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Matthews George Cross was announced alongside a raft of operational honours and decorations with the emphasis very much on the deeds of 40 Commando and their tour of duty in Helmand. There were Mentions in Dispatches for Ma] —

—

honours

Konnichiwa Kent u,———"“

BLUE skies, azure waters. Yep, it’s not Blighty. This is HMS Kent in the US Naval Base on Okinawa in Japan. 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 golf. swimming or simply going to one of the beautiful ches 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. 5'! Paying tribute to Exeter. page 32

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engieyadiving,

i LAlPhoil Owen King. FRPU East

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