Reservist marine may be nominated for VC
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: F8 and Be There
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
F*ck me. Balls like cabbages.
You'd certainly want him on your side in a fight. If that doesn't qualify for a VC, then what does?
Hope he's not buying his own beer for a very long time to come, well done, bloke.
Max
You'd certainly want him on your side in a fight. If that doesn't qualify for a VC, then what does?
Hope he's not buying his own beer for a very long time to come, well done, bloke.
Max
Join Date: May 2005
Location: london
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Small correction to media reports. Bootneck in question is a former RM reservist but currently a regular.
And an extremely brave young man.
Would be great to see him well decorated - for him and for rest of 40.
And an extremely brave young man.
Would be great to see him well decorated - for him and for rest of 40.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: England
Posts: 964
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
By the sounds of it he is so modest he would be embarrassed. The bravest people always seem to be the most humble, yet in the movies they are portrayed as the opposite. Well done chap. I would have been stupid enough to fall on the grenade on my stomach.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: bristol
Age: 56
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can I please add my thoughts on this.
I grew up reading old copies of hotspur, or warlord comics, where acts like this were the norm...BUT when I joined the Army I soon realised just how easy it was to get killed, while doing nothing at all (chemical or artillery attack etc.) So when I read the above posts (before reading the actual article) the act of this marine seemed very selfless and brave, but maybe not enough to earn a VC in these times of reluctant medal givings. BUT once I had read the article, a couple of things leapt out of the print to me....It was in the dark, and, this marine squashed the grenade using his back.
The above, is how I basically see the event in cold terms, and a reflection of my view of how our government view our armed forces, and choose to reward them. But sitting here in the comfort of my house, my own personal and emotional view, is that this is a legend of a bloke, he did something totally outstanding that night. Yes it was in the highest traditions of the corps, but is was so much more than that. Not only did he clearly risk is life (and may even have thought he was about to give it up for his friends) but to do it at night, and trap the grenade by lying on it (on his back), demonstrates a high level of skill too. This was clearly one of those times where you had to get it right the first time.
And although it seems that nearly all VC holders are very modest about their achievements, they have all done extraordinary things, and this young marine should be included in their ranks.
Barnstormer 1968
I grew up reading old copies of hotspur, or warlord comics, where acts like this were the norm...BUT when I joined the Army I soon realised just how easy it was to get killed, while doing nothing at all (chemical or artillery attack etc.) So when I read the above posts (before reading the actual article) the act of this marine seemed very selfless and brave, but maybe not enough to earn a VC in these times of reluctant medal givings. BUT once I had read the article, a couple of things leapt out of the print to me....It was in the dark, and, this marine squashed the grenade using his back.
The above, is how I basically see the event in cold terms, and a reflection of my view of how our government view our armed forces, and choose to reward them. But sitting here in the comfort of my house, my own personal and emotional view, is that this is a legend of a bloke, he did something totally outstanding that night. Yes it was in the highest traditions of the corps, but is was so much more than that. Not only did he clearly risk is life (and may even have thought he was about to give it up for his friends) but to do it at night, and trap the grenade by lying on it (on his back), demonstrates a high level of skill too. This was clearly one of those times where you had to get it right the first time.
And although it seems that nearly all VC holders are very modest about their achievements, they have all done extraordinary things, and this young marine should be included in their ranks.
Barnstormer 1968
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I particularly liked the comment about curling his legs up to avoid losing them 
If that one fleeting thought and action does not indicate the selflessness and courage of his actions, and more importantly his duty of care for his oppos then what does ?
Not to dilute the daily acts of courage and such service to their country by all in theatre right now, but this one does catch the eye ?
If his mates want him to receive the VC then it should be done - nobody is your worst critic than your mates in the RM
If that one fleeting thought and action does not indicate the selflessness and courage of his actions, and more importantly his duty of care for his oppos then what does ?
Not to dilute the daily acts of courage and such service to their country by all in theatre right now, but this one does catch the eye ?
If his mates want him to receive the VC then it should be done - nobody is your worst critic than your mates in the RM
Congratulations to the Bootie, well worthy of a VC (or a GC, if they can't get round the "face of the enemy" bit - it does rank alongside).
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: the Big Smoke
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What amazes me is how switched on he was. To have the presence of mind to roll onto the grenade, using his pack to squash it down, and then to lift his legs - all in 2-5 seconds? (Although they must have been the longest seconds of his life)
I fear that I'd have been like his opo - standing there ith my mouth flapping like a fish out of water!
They are all extraordinary people - he just happens to have been a bit more so!
Sir, I salute you!
I fear that I'd have been like his opo - standing there ith my mouth flapping like a fish out of water!
They are all extraordinary people - he just happens to have been a bit more so!
Sir, I salute you!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Just chatting to a mate of mine and he's pretty sure that a holder of the VC is automatically classed as the senior person on a parade.
Is this true?
If so and should this Marine get what he deserves, does that mean that he can turn up to a parade 10 minutes late and leave the CGRM and everyone waiting?
Is this true?
If so and should this Marine get what he deserves, does that mean that he can turn up to a parade 10 minutes late and leave the CGRM and everyone waiting?
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VC for Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher?
Sunday Telegraph, 6 April 2008.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...ntattoo206.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...ntattoo206.xml
It is widely accepted that to be awarded the Victoria Cross a serviceman needs to show such astonishing courage that nine times out of 10 he would die carrying out the action.
If that is the case, Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher is absolutely entitled to be awarded Britain's most prestigious bravery award.
With only a few seconds to make a decision, the 24-year-old Royal Marine threw himself onto a live grenade in order to save the lives of three comrades. Showing intelligence as well as valour, the soldier twisted onto his back to allow his rucksack to take the full force of the inevitable blast during a raid on a Taliban compound in Afghanistan.
Yet, even then, perhaps 99 times out of 100 L/Cpl Croucher would have been killed or horribly injured. Instead, he was simply left stunned, bleeding from the nose and temporarily deaf, having been hurled across the compound, while his rucksack was shredded
If that is the case, Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher is absolutely entitled to be awarded Britain's most prestigious bravery award.
With only a few seconds to make a decision, the 24-year-old Royal Marine threw himself onto a live grenade in order to save the lives of three comrades. Showing intelligence as well as valour, the soldier twisted onto his back to allow his rucksack to take the full force of the inevitable blast during a raid on a Taliban compound in Afghanistan.
Yet, even then, perhaps 99 times out of 100 L/Cpl Croucher would have been killed or horribly injured. Instead, he was simply left stunned, bleeding from the nose and temporarily deaf, having been hurled across the compound, while his rucksack was shredded
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
It is widely accepted that to be awarded the Victoria Cross a serviceman needs to show such astonishing courage that nine times out of 10 he would die carrying out the action.
"... 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."
Death is extremely likey, but it is not a quantifiable statistic, despite what Lord Ashcroft of Belize likes to write in the Torygraph.
a holder of the VC is automatically classed as the senior person on a parade.
"Although it is not statutory for all ranks to salute a bearer of the Victoria Cross and there is no official requirement that appears in the official Warrant of the VC, nor in Queen's Regulations and Orders' tradition dictates that this occurs and as such all Officers will salute a soldier awarded a VC or GC"
...sounds like an excellent habit that has become tradition. It would be an honour to be able to salute any VC holder.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To quote L/Cpl Croucher in the Sunday Telegraph:
"I thought, 'I've set the bl**dy thing off and I'm going to do whatever it takes to save the others'."
What a fantastic attitude. That's true comradeship.
"I thought, 'I've set the bl**dy thing off and I'm going to do whatever it takes to save the others'."
What a fantastic attitude. That's true comradeship.
Red On, Green On
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Take a few moments to listen to the citation being read out at his GC investiture today, and look at the smile on HM's face. Bet that's one morning's work she was more than happy to carry out.
Link to BBCi
Link to BBCi
Red On, Green On
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
It was a trip wired-activated grenade, so Terry could have been miles away. Equally, it could have been the start of an ambush, but I don't think they took any hostile fire apart from the grenade.