Para Budd, one of the Helmand heroes,
3 Bn Parachute Regiment
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 11:25am GMT 14/12/2006
A paratrooper who launched a lone charge on Taliban lines after his platoon was ambushed is expected to be awarded the Victoria Cross today.
Cpl Bryan Budd
The men of 3Bn the Parachute Regiment will be showered with operational honours including the highest award for gallantry that will be given posthumously to Cpl Bryan Budd.
A soldier who rescued injured comrades from a minefield will receive the George Cross, the highest recognition for gallant conduct when not in the face of the enemy.
During some of the most intense fighting experienced by the British Army in the past half century the airborne forces time and again demonstrated exceptional courage in combat that saw more than 500,000 rounds fired and 1,000 Taliban killed over the summer.
The bravery shown by the 3,300 men of the Helmand Task Force, including Royal Engineers, military police, Royal Artillery and infantry will be recognised by a "hatful of medals", military sources said last night.
It will be similar to the last major announcement of operational honours when Pte Johnson Beharry received the VC for his actions in saving colleagues while under fire during the deployment of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment to Amarah, Iraq in 2004.
Lt Col Stuart Tootal is expected to be recognised for his leadership of 3 Para battle group when it was deployed to Helmand in May, initially to provide backbone for Afghan security forces and to help in reconstruction efforts.
But instead of rebuilding the country the soldiers found themselves in bloody battles against Taliban insurgents who launched near suicidal assaults in large numbers.
Daily gunfights were fought as the British force pushed into the lawless northern towns of the province to wrest power from the Taliban and opium warlords.
Sangin town experienced some of the most intense fighting that included the extraordinary act of heroism by Cpl Budd, 29.
On Aug 20 he was part of a 24-man patrol from A Company, 3 Para, which was sent to clear a cornfield to protect Royal Engineers working in the area.
The Paras came under fire with several soldiers suffering gunshot wounds. Cpl Budd charged the enemy position while firing with his SA80 rifle on fully automatic. Soon afterwards the enemy's fire dropped off and the soldier's section was able to break away from the contact.
The night before his death Cpl Budd had talked quietly to a military policeman, L/Cpl Matt Carse, about his wife and the joy of becoming a father again after discovering she was pregnant.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph shortly after he returned from Afghanistan in October, L/Cpl Carse said the next time he saw his friend was to help recover the body.
"A patrol had been ambushed with machineguns and there was a Para missing," he said.
"We formed a quick reaction force and with a Para sniper we went out to find him. We ran out through the gates of the platoon house under fire. We took a lot of fire as we got into a cornfield where the soldier was and then we had to fight our way back to the platoon house with Cpl Budd.
"He was one of the best and bravest soldiers I had met — he had taken on the Taliban virtually on his own." Comrades of Cpl Budd, who was due to be promoted to sergeant, said earlier in the tour he had single-handedly stormed a building using hand grenades and his rifle to kill the enemy.
Cpl Budd, from Ripon, North Yorks, had recently rejoined 3 Para after a successful tour with the Parachute Regiment's elite Pathfinder Platoon, which is used to carry out reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines.
As part of the Pathfinders, he served in many operational theatres including the former Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq during his 10 years' service.
The Ministry of Defence last night requested the media to refrain from naming the soldier in line for the George Cross as his family were unaware of the exact medal until today. But it can be reported that the soldier, without any thought for his own safety, ran to the aid of two comrades injured by exploding mines from an old Soviet minefield.
The paratrooper helped treat their wounds and called for a helicopter which winched them to safety. But he fell victim to another mine and died before he reached hospital. It is likely that he lost out on a VC on a technicality in that his bravery was not " in the face of the enemy" as the medal criteria demands.
A number of other medals will be announced today, including those to honour the bravery of troops in action in Iraq. Several RAF Chinook helicopter pilots, who braved a torrent of gunfire to land supplies and troops in Afghanistan, are also expected to receive medals.
Soldier awarded George Cross for saving two comrades,
UK, 3 Bn Parachute Regiment
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 11:15am GMT 14/12/2006
A soldier who saved the lives of two injured comrades who had strayed into a minefield was awarded the George Cross today.
Cpl Mark Wright died in September
Without any regard to his own safety Cpl Mark Wright went to the aid of fellow paratroopers who had their legs blown off after accidentally walking into an unmarked minefield.
After helping to treat their wounds and calling for a helicopter to winch them to safety, he himself fell victim to a landmine and died before he could be taken to hospital.
The patrol from the 3Bn the Parachute Regiment had been sent to search for an observation position on hills overlooking the town of Kajaki in northern Helmand province in September.
But a mine was triggered which injured several others in the minefield sown by the Soviet following their occupation in the 1980s. The Russians planted several hundred thousand mines with many thrown out of helicopters and never marked on a map.
Cpl Wright and the other injured were taken by helicopter to a field hospital but the section commander died of his wounds.
Following his death Brig Ed Butler, the commander of British forces in Afghanistan, hailed the soldier's conduct "an act of exceptional bravery". The George Cross is awarded for "acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger."
The medal is primarily a civilian award but can be given to troops for gallant conduct which is not in the face of the enemy.
It ranks with the Victoria Cross as the nation's highest award for gallantry and is awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger".
Cpl Wright, who lived in Edinburgh with his fiancee Gillian who he was planning to marry this year, had served in the Army for seven years.
He successfully completed three tours of Northern Ireland and in 2003 was sent with 3 Para to Iraq where he served with distinction. As mortar fire support NCO the soldier provided close artillery support for colleagues.
The Paras said his "accurate and timely fire control" saved many lives and was "instrumental in fending off Taliban attacks".
Lt-Col Stuart Tootal, the commanding officer of 3 Para, said: "Cpl Wright died attempting to save the life of a fellow paratrooper who had been injured in a mine incident.
"He did so in complete disregard for his own safety whilst fully aware of the dangers to himself.
"His actions were typical of the type of man Cpl Wright was.
"Cpl Wright possessed exceptionally high moral and physical courage."
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3 Bn Parachute Regiment
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 11:25am GMT 14/12/2006
A paratrooper who launched a lone charge on Taliban lines after his platoon was ambushed is expected to be awarded the Victoria Cross today.
Cpl Bryan Budd
The men of 3Bn the Parachute Regiment will be showered with operational honours including the highest award for gallantry that will be given posthumously to Cpl Bryan Budd.
A soldier who rescued injured comrades from a minefield will receive the George Cross, the highest recognition for gallant conduct when not in the face of the enemy.
During some of the most intense fighting experienced by the British Army in the past half century the airborne forces time and again demonstrated exceptional courage in combat that saw more than 500,000 rounds fired and 1,000 Taliban killed over the summer.
The bravery shown by the 3,300 men of the Helmand Task Force, including Royal Engineers, military police, Royal Artillery and infantry will be recognised by a "hatful of medals", military sources said last night.
It will be similar to the last major announcement of operational honours when Pte Johnson Beharry received the VC for his actions in saving colleagues while under fire during the deployment of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment to Amarah, Iraq in 2004.
Lt Col Stuart Tootal is expected to be recognised for his leadership of 3 Para battle group when it was deployed to Helmand in May, initially to provide backbone for Afghan security forces and to help in reconstruction efforts.
But instead of rebuilding the country the soldiers found themselves in bloody battles against Taliban insurgents who launched near suicidal assaults in large numbers.
Daily gunfights were fought as the British force pushed into the lawless northern towns of the province to wrest power from the Taliban and opium warlords.
Sangin town experienced some of the most intense fighting that included the extraordinary act of heroism by Cpl Budd, 29.
On Aug 20 he was part of a 24-man patrol from A Company, 3 Para, which was sent to clear a cornfield to protect Royal Engineers working in the area.
The Paras came under fire with several soldiers suffering gunshot wounds. Cpl Budd charged the enemy position while firing with his SA80 rifle on fully automatic. Soon afterwards the enemy's fire dropped off and the soldier's section was able to break away from the contact.
The night before his death Cpl Budd had talked quietly to a military policeman, L/Cpl Matt Carse, about his wife and the joy of becoming a father again after discovering she was pregnant.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph shortly after he returned from Afghanistan in October, L/Cpl Carse said the next time he saw his friend was to help recover the body.
"A patrol had been ambushed with machineguns and there was a Para missing," he said.
"We formed a quick reaction force and with a Para sniper we went out to find him. We ran out through the gates of the platoon house under fire. We took a lot of fire as we got into a cornfield where the soldier was and then we had to fight our way back to the platoon house with Cpl Budd.
"He was one of the best and bravest soldiers I had met — he had taken on the Taliban virtually on his own." Comrades of Cpl Budd, who was due to be promoted to sergeant, said earlier in the tour he had single-handedly stormed a building using hand grenades and his rifle to kill the enemy.
Cpl Budd, from Ripon, North Yorks, had recently rejoined 3 Para after a successful tour with the Parachute Regiment's elite Pathfinder Platoon, which is used to carry out reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines.
As part of the Pathfinders, he served in many operational theatres including the former Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq during his 10 years' service.
The Ministry of Defence last night requested the media to refrain from naming the soldier in line for the George Cross as his family were unaware of the exact medal until today. But it can be reported that the soldier, without any thought for his own safety, ran to the aid of two comrades injured by exploding mines from an old Soviet minefield.
The paratrooper helped treat their wounds and called for a helicopter which winched them to safety. But he fell victim to another mine and died before he reached hospital. It is likely that he lost out on a VC on a technicality in that his bravery was not " in the face of the enemy" as the medal criteria demands.
A number of other medals will be announced today, including those to honour the bravery of troops in action in Iraq. Several RAF Chinook helicopter pilots, who braved a torrent of gunfire to land supplies and troops in Afghanistan, are also expected to receive medals.
Soldier awarded George Cross for saving two comrades,
UK, 3 Bn Parachute Regiment
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 11:15am GMT 14/12/2006
A soldier who saved the lives of two injured comrades who had strayed into a minefield was awarded the George Cross today.
Cpl Mark Wright died in September
Without any regard to his own safety Cpl Mark Wright went to the aid of fellow paratroopers who had their legs blown off after accidentally walking into an unmarked minefield.
After helping to treat their wounds and calling for a helicopter to winch them to safety, he himself fell victim to a landmine and died before he could be taken to hospital.
The patrol from the 3Bn the Parachute Regiment had been sent to search for an observation position on hills overlooking the town of Kajaki in northern Helmand province in September.
But a mine was triggered which injured several others in the minefield sown by the Soviet following their occupation in the 1980s. The Russians planted several hundred thousand mines with many thrown out of helicopters and never marked on a map.
Cpl Wright and the other injured were taken by helicopter to a field hospital but the section commander died of his wounds.
Following his death Brig Ed Butler, the commander of British forces in Afghanistan, hailed the soldier's conduct "an act of exceptional bravery". The George Cross is awarded for "acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger."
The medal is primarily a civilian award but can be given to troops for gallant conduct which is not in the face of the enemy.
It ranks with the Victoria Cross as the nation's highest award for gallantry and is awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger".
Cpl Wright, who lived in Edinburgh with his fiancee Gillian who he was planning to marry this year, had served in the Army for seven years.
He successfully completed three tours of Northern Ireland and in 2003 was sent with 3 Para to Iraq where he served with distinction. As mortar fire support NCO the soldier provided close artillery support for colleagues.
The Paras said his "accurate and timely fire control" saved many lives and was "instrumental in fending off Taliban attacks".
Lt-Col Stuart Tootal, the commanding officer of 3 Para, said: "Cpl Wright died attempting to save the life of a fellow paratrooper who had been injured in a mine incident.
"He did so in complete disregard for his own safety whilst fully aware of the dangers to himself.
"His actions were typical of the type of man Cpl Wright was.
"Cpl Wright possessed exceptionally high moral and physical courage."
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