Lance Corporal Matt Croucher. We salute you.

[Buzzer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7321647.stm


A Royal Marine who threw himself onto an exploding grenade to save the lives of his patrol has been put forward for the UK's highest military honour.
Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, 24, a reservist from Birmingham, survived because his rucksack and body armour took the force of the blast. He was part of a reconnaissance troop in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in February, when the incident happened. The Ministry of Defence said he could be considered for the Victoria Cross.

A spokesman said L/Cpl Croucher's comrades had made a citation to their commanding officer and officers were now considering whether to put his name forward for the honour. L/Cpl Croucher, a member of 40 Commando, had been searching a compound south of Sangin which was suspected as being used for making bombs to attack British and Afghan troops. When a Taleban booby-trap grenade was tripped, L/Cpl Croucher jumped on to the device to absorb the force of the explosion with his backpack as his comrades dived for cover. The blast blew his rucksack more than 30ft away but he remarkably suffered only severe shock and a bloodied nose in the incident.


Balls of steel.

 

[Questions]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7321647.stm


A Royal Marine who threw himself onto an exploding grenade to save the lives of his patrol has been put forward for the UK's highest military honour.
Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, 24, a reservist from Birmingham, survived because his rucksack and body armour took the force of the blast. He was part of a reconnaissance troop in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in February, when the incident happened. The Ministry of Defence said he could be considered for the Victoria Cross.

A spokesman said L/Cpl Croucher's comrades had made a citation to their commanding officer and officers were now considering whether to put his name forward for the honour. L/Cpl Croucher, a member of 40 Commando, had been searching a compound south of Sangin which was suspected as being used for making bombs to attack British and Afghan troops. When a Taleban booby-trap grenade was tripped, L/Cpl Croucher jumped on to the device to absorb the force of the explosion with his backpack as his comrades dived for cover. The blast blew his rucksack more than 30ft away but he remarkably suffered only severe shock and a bloodied nose in the incident.


Balls of steel.

I think abusing his kit like that is irresponsible.

 

[Yorkie]

My Stepfather and half brother both served in the Royal Marines.
Respect to them.

I hope he gets the VC. They aren't handed out lightly but it was a selfless brave act.

 

[The Large One]

f***ing hell's bollocks.

What a guy. "Smoke me a kipper, I'll be home for breakfast."

 

[London Calling]

VC IF He Landed On The Bomb With His Chest, But Not With His Back Pack, Crikey, They Be Getting Medals For Eating Curries Next.

 

[Grendel]

Should be awarded the George Cross rather than the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross is for bravery "....in the presence of the enemy."

That aside, serious respect to the guy.

 

[Yorkie]

Should be awarded the George Cross rather than the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross is for bravery "....in the presence of the enemy."

That aside, serious respect to the guy.

The George Cross is awarded to civilians. The Victoria Cross is for bravery in theatres of war (theatre meaning area)

 

[Grendel]

The George Cross is awarded to civilians. The Victoria Cross is for bravery in theatres of war (theatre meaning area)

The George Cross can be awarded to civilians or military personnel.

 

[Munkfish]

f***ing hell's bollocks.

What a guy. "Smoke me a kipper, I'll be home for breakfast."

exactly what i was thinking

 

[steve-c]

deserves the vc, what a top bloke, he was prepared to die to save his mates,
beers all round i think.

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

 

[Storer68]

Should be awarded the George Cross rather than the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross is for bravery "....in the presence of the enemy."

That aside, serious respect to the guy.

A pedant corrects

The VC is given "For Valour" - that is the only yardstick.

Anyway, he only suffered a nose bleed.

Might be more likely to get the Conspicupus Gallantry Cross (CGC) but bloody brave nonethess

The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) is the second highest military decoration of the United Kingdom armed forces.

The CGC was instituted in the aftermath of the 1993 review of the honours system. As part of the drive to remove distinctions of rank in awards for bravery, the CGC replaced both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Army) and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Air and Naval) as second level awards to Other Ranks and ratings. The CGC also replaced the Distinguished Service Order, in its role as an award to officers for gallantry (although the DSO was retained as an award for outstanding leadership). The CGC now serves as the second level award for gallantry for all ranks across the whole armed forces.

The CGC, which may be awarded posthumously, is awarded "in recognition of an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy".

Bars are awarded to the CGC in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. Recipients are entitled to the postnominal letters CGC.

 

[steward 433]

A pedant corrects

The VC is given "For Valour" - that is the only yardstick.

Anyway, he only suffered a nose bleed.

And if he was a yank would get about 10 medals.

Seriously though top bloke

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

Seriously though top bloke

of course

one of my old boys

 

[SussexHoop]

He needs a medal for that because his grandkids won't believe him when he tells them that one ...

"So I saved my mates by throwing myself on a grenade."

"How badly injured were you Grandad?"

"Bit of a nosebleed son. That's all"

That really is something else ...

 

[Grendel]

A pedant corrects

The VC is given "For Valour" - that is the only yardstick.

A bigger pedant corrects:

"For Valour" is the inscription on the medal. The medal itself is awarded "for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.".

Defence Internet | Fact Sheets | Guide to Honours

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Personally I'd be quite happy for him to get a VC, but if you've seen the Clarkson programme on the VC down the years, it's incredibly difficult to get one - you basically need to get both arms and legs blown off, have a spot of lunch and go back for some more action. Fair play to him all the same.

 

[Simster]

Outstanding bravery, it must be said.

 

[Mrs Coach]

I think that's incredibly brave. For all he knew, he might have ended up without arms or legs, or even his life.

 

[mr sheen]

A bigger pedant corrects:

"For Valour" is the inscription on the medal. The medal itself is awarded "for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.".

Defence Internet | Fact Sheets | Guide to Honours

Was it not the enemy who threw the grenade? Suggesting a presence?