U.K. Craig Brelsford, Military Cross, Afghanistan

[bobdina]

The Military Cross (MC) is the third level military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.

The MC is granted in recognition of "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land to all members, of any rank in Our Armed Forces…".[2] In 1979 the Queen approved a proposal that a number of awards including the Military Cross could in future be awarded posthumously

Sergeant Craig Brelsford

An astonishing story of bravery and self- sacrifice emerged yesterday after a soldier was killed in Afghanistan trying to rescue a mortally-wounded comrade during an eight-hour battle.

Sergeant Craig Brelsford, described as "the perfect infantry commander", died as he attempted to storm a Taliban strongpoint during a night-time firefight - said to be the most intense and terrifying experienced by UK forces in months.

Realising that some of his troops were wounded and cut off, the 25-year-old soldier led repeated rescue attempts in face of withering fire from enemy trenches and machine-gun posts.

He was returning one last time to reach an injured comrade when he was cut down.

Details of his valour emerged as British military officials in Helmand province described the scale of the fighting around the town of Garmsir as being "of nightmare proportions", and "like a First World War battle scene".

Garmsir is the "frontier town" in the south of Helmand, straddling the Taliban's main supply route from Pakistan in the south.

It has changed hands repeatedly.

The plains for miles around have become a wasteland of craters after countless skirmishes, battles and airstrikes, and are now crisscrossed by trenches and machine-gun posts.

On Saturday men from A Company of the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) were ordered to advance, to "take the fight to the enemy" and clear the fortified Taliban positions.

Moving forward in darkness they came under intense fire, and the battle raged for eight hours.

The ordeal was described by an Army spokesman as "the most intense and frightening encountered in the past five months".

Sergeant Brelsford, who was single and came from Nottingham, realised that some soldiers from his platoon had been seriously injured and were cut off when the unit retreated, covered by heavy fire from British armoured vehicles.

He led his men back into the killing zone repeatedly to rescue three of his comrades, who were flown by helicopter to the main British field hospital and survived.

He tried one last time to find Private Johan Botha, also 25, from Pretoria in South Africa, who had been fatally wounded.

This time his luck ran out, and he too was killed.

His company commander Major Jamie Nowell said: "He repeatedly fought through tenacious enemy fire to extract casualties.

"Charismatic, intelligent, tough and robust - Sergeant Brelsford was the perfect infantry commander.

"I am convinced that if he had been given the opportunity to choreograph his own death it would not have been dissimilar to the heroic circumstances in which he died."

In a statement his family said: "The Army was Craig's life. He joined up at 17 and wanted to make it his career. He loved the regiment."

Army insiders said they believed Sergeant Brelsford's valour deserved to be recognised with a posthumous medal.

Comrades of Private Botha, who was married with a young daughter, also described how he bravely continued to fire despite being mortally wounded.

Close friend Private Kevin Latham said: "He died the way a true soldier should.

"Although he was very seriously injured he continued to fight until the very end, ensuring the safety of all his mates."

[bobdina]

Brave Sergeant died a hero trying to save others in Afghanistan

Sergeant Craig Brelsford, who died on 8 September, 2007, aged 25, was renowned as a brave soldier by his superior officers and the men under his command.

He had no hesitation in trying to save their lives when a number of his comrades were injured in a pre-planned raid to disrupt the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Sgt Brelsford, of The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), was killed in a heavy fire fight south of Gasmir. Private Johan Botha from South Africa also died.

Major Jamie Nowel, officer Commanding A (Grenadier) Company, said: “Sergeant Brelsford was killed in action attacking a well defended Taliban position in an attempt to protect and evacuate his wounded comrades.

“He repeatedly fought through tenacious enemy fire to extract casualties and was hit on his final attack to find Private Botha, also killed in action, who had fallen behind enemy lines - this exceptionally courageous act of bravery and selfless commitment personified the character of Sergeant Brelsford.”

Sgt Brelsford enlisted in the Army on April 6, 1999, and joined 1st Battalion, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters just as the Battalion deployed to Omagh, Northern Ireland, in December of the same year.

He served in Northern Ireland on three operational tours and had previously served in Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 1 in 2004. He had also been deployed with his battalion twice to Belize and to Kenya on arduous exercises.

Though only eight days short of his 26th birthday, his bravery during the operation on September 8 was the kind of behaviour his fellow soldiers had come to expect from a man marked out for fast-track promotion through the ranks - his latest progress report marked him "outstanding" in every category.

From the family home in Chilwell, Nottingham, Sgt Brelsford's father Paul, 56, said: "He wanted to be on out there, hands-on, in the infantry with his local regiment."

"He always told us not to worry, he was doing the job he loved. I am so proud of him," added his mother, Susan, 52.

Car enthusiast and Tottenham Hotspur supporter Sgt Brelsford also leaves two brothers, Jamie, 20, and Chris, 16.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Banton, Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), said: “Sergeant Craig Brelsford was a hugely popular man and a superb senior non-commissioned officer; fit, strong and robust, he led from the front. It is unsurprising that he fell while attempting to rescue wounded soldiers under enemy fire.

“Junior soldiers were inspired by him and aspired to follow the example he set. He was assured a bright future and had an enormous amount of potential. His death is keenly felt across the Battalion. He will be sorely missed.”

A Sergeant in No 3 Platoon, Sgt Brelsford had, said Major Nowel, “maturity beyond his years”.

“He died maintaining the incredibly high standards he lived for and protecting his soldiers’ lives - his troops always came first,” said Major Nowel.

“Charismatic, intelligent, tough and robust, Sgt Brelsford was the perfect infantry commander. I am convinced that if he had been given the opportunity to choreograph his own death it would not have been dissimilar to the heroic circumstances in which he died.“

Sgt Brelsford and Pte Botha were the third and fourth members of the 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, to fall in action since it changed its name from 1st Battalion the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th of Foot) just one week before they died.

Company Sergeant Major Pete Lewis, of A (Grenadier) Company said: “From the first time I met Sergeant Brelsford he was a pillar to me and somebody I could trust and rely on. In the field he was second to none, one of the best soldiers I have had the honour of working with.

“There will be a void in the company where he stood, alongside his soldiers to the end. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.”

Newark MP and former commanding officer of the Foresters, Patrick Mercer, said losses would not harm the regiment’s morale.“They will go forward, with their weapons armed and ready and their bayonets raised,” he said.

[nastyleg]

nice read and hope his family can move on.