Page 16 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

14
Mercian Regiment Gallantry Medal Winners
During the past year, we have been profiling all of our gallantry medal winners since the regiment was formed in 2007 on Facebook, while also creating bespoke frames for each battalion.
For the first time in The Mercian Eagle, you can now find a list of all 19 individuals alongside a citation of their heroic actions. We thank not only these 19 individuals, but all current serving and retired personnel of the regiment for their service and continued bravery.
Lieutenant Simon Timothy
CUPPLES CGC
Platoon Commander Helmand Province, 2007
The first of our gallantry award winners is
Lieutenant Simon Cupples of Derbyshire. His
actions whilst deployed to Helmand Province,
Afghanistan in 2007 with 2 MERCIAN earned him a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), an award second only to The Victoria Cross.
“Cupples’ section was caught in open ground by very intense and accurate enemy fire and sustained several casualties. He rallied a team of five men and led them to the killing zone on four separate occasions, painstakingly recovering three of the casualties. For the fifth time, he crawled forward in an attempt to recover the last casualty but the remorseless intensity of the enemy fire forced him to withdraw. He was utterly determined not to leave his soldier behind and subsequently commanded a rescue team who successfully recovered the soldier.”
Private Paul Darren WILLMOTT CGC
Rifleman
Helmand Province, 2007
Next in our list is Private Paul Willmott of Pershore, Worcestershire. He received a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his actions in Afghanistan, 2007.
“Willmott assumed command of his section
in the most testing of circumstances and, neutralizing the enemy
as he went, withdrew his section to safety while not abandoning a casualty. He showed exceptional courage and resolve, and extreme devotion to duty and to his comrades.”
Sergeant Craig Anthony BRELSFORD MC
(Killed In Action)
Platoon Sergeant Helmand Province, 2007
Our next gallantry award winner is Sergeant
Craig Brelsford MC (KIA) from Chilwell. He received a posthumous Military Cross for his heroic actions whilst deployed in Afghanistan with 2 MERCIAN in 2007. His actions saved the lives of many, but tragically cost him the ultimate sacrifice.
“When tasked to assist in the evacuation of four casualties in
a killing area with Taliban firing positions on two sides, Brelsford quickly assessed the situation and consequently placed himself between the enemy and the casualties thereby creating a protective screen. Whilst providing inspiration and encouragement to some very frightened young soldiers he was critically injured. Only once he was in the safety of a VIKING vehicle did he stop commanding his men, a short time later he succumbed to his injuries. Brelsford displayed leadership, professional skill and courage of the very highest order.”
Private Luke COLE MC
Rifleman
Helmand Province, 2007
Private Luke Cole MC, is a 4 MERCIAN Army Reservist from Wolverhampton. He received a Military Cross for his actions whilst deployed with the 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment in Afghanistan in 2007.
“Having been hit in a burst of enemy fire which broke his leg, Cole selflessly crawled over open ground to administer first aid to his wounded comrades and suppressed the enemy with his personal weapon to protect them for over two hours. He was then shot again but refused morphine and continued to try to manoeuvre out of the killing zone and communicate with his commander. Cole is rewarded for his remarkable gallantry.”
Private Aaron Stuart HOLMES MC
Rifleman
Helmand Province, 2007
The next in our series of MERCIAN gallantry medal winners is Private Aaron Holmes MC from Dudley, who at just 19 received a Military Cross for his actions whilst deployed in Afghanistan, with the 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment.
“Holmes personally neutralised a large number of enemy and protected a fallen comrade by placing himself in the killing zone between the casualty and the enemy. He gave covering fire and refused to leave until another fire team recovered the casualty. Holmes’ courageous performance was significantly above that expected of a private soldier.”
Corporal Michael LOCKETT MC
Platoon Sergeant Helmand Province, 2007
Sergeant Michael Lockett MC was awarded the Military Cross for his actions in Afghanistan while deployed with the 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment in 2007. Sadly, Sergeant Lockett was killed in action on a later tour of Afghanistan in 2009.
“Lockett is awarded for his leadership, command, control and supreme courage when his forward section sustained serious casualties. Lockett dashed into the killing area and assessed the situation, then as a member of a five-man extraction party, he selflessly moved forward a further three times under heavy and sustained enemy fire to extract severely wounded soldiers.”
THE MERCIAN EAGLE