Posted on 10/14/2007 8:11:00 AM PDT by Stoat
Simon Hall and his companions were unarmed when they were overpowered by gunmen near the Kuwait border, bundled into a pick-up truck and taken on a terrifying journey to almost certain death.
But the captives launched a daring escape attempt, with Simon heroically grabbing hold of the driver. Though he was shot in the head, his grip on the man was so tight it gave his colleagues the vital time they needed to get away.
Now the security firm that employed all five is to nominate Simon, 39, for the medal. Stephen Thomas, of Securiforce International, said: 'Simon's extremely brave actions undoubtedly led to the others getting away.
I am writing the citation and getting letters of support from people in Iraq who know what happened.
'I hope we may receive support from David Cameron as Simon lived in his constituency.'
The full details of the incident last November were revealed at Simon's inquest in Oxford last month. Mr Thomas told coroner Dr Richard Whittington that had Simon been in the Army he would have been awarded a Military Cross.
Mr Thomas said: 'We are looking at the George Cross. Simon was unarmed and working on humanitarian convoys to rebuild Iraq.'
Dr Whittington may support the recommendation. He said he was deeply moved by Simon's courage and told the court: 'He carried out an extraordinary act of bravery and deserves a medal.'
Simon had served in the Royal Artillery and was a veteran of the 1991 Gulf War. His group was abducted by insurgents on its way to deliver ambulances and forced at gunpoint into the rear cab of a pick-up truck, with Simon placed behind the driver, who was next to the commander.
Four men with automatic weapons were on guard in the rear of the truck and a second vehicle full of insurgents followed. During the journey the men were frequently hit and the Iraqi commander pointed his gun at their faces and made sawing motions across his throat. He screamed in Arabic and made it clear they were going to be murdered.
The insurgents kept firing their guns in excitement and struck the SFI men whenever they spoke. The group's only hope was to escape and they made their move when the second vehicle dropped back.
Two men attacked the commander as he leaned out of the window, singing and firing his gun. Simon then grabbed the driver's arms and forced them behind his back as the jeep came to a halt. Then the men grabbed their guards' weapons and turned them on their captors, but the guns initially misfired and Simon was shot.
The inquest was told all the survivors praised Simon's courage for acting when he knew that he had a gun pointed at his head. In the ensuing gunfight four insurgents were shot dead and all four of Simon's colleagues were wounded but managed to escape.
Simon's widow, Sarah, 45, of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, welcomed news of the medal. She said: 'The bottom of my world dropped out when he died. The most important thing now is that his courage is recognised. He deserves it.'
Simon was stepfather to Sarah's children Alexander, 18, and Miranda, 15. She said: 'Simon was a complete one-off with a great sense of fun and adventure.'
George Cross
The highest gallantry award for civilians, the GC is also awarded to military personnel for those acts for which military honours would not normally granted, such as acts of gallantry not in presence of the enemy
George Cross (GC)
History
As Britain came under intense air attack during the summer of 1940, Winston Churchill thought that a new medal to recognise the many acts of gallantry being performed by civilians should be introduced. Although awards to recognise civilian gallantry not in presence of the enemy already existed, none held the prestige of the equivalent award for gallantry in battle, the Victoria Cross.
The King agreed and in January 1941 the Warrant relating to award of the George Cross was published. Those holders of the Empire Gallantry Medal, Albert Medal and the Edward Medal which had been awarded prior to the introduction of the GC, were all invited to exchange their awards for the GC.
To date, 157 GCs have been awarded directly, including four to women, with 47 of those awarded since 1947. The three most recent recipients of the GC have been Army personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. One was awarded posthumously for gallantry displayed both before and after sustaining mortal injuries when entering a minefield in Afghanistan. The other two were awarded for service in Iraq, for gallantry displayed in a 'friendly-fire' incident and for gallantry displayed after receiving severe injuries caused by an Improvised Explosive Device. All were hugely courageous acts, although not in actual presence of the enemy, and therefore were successfully considered for award of the GC.
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IntroductionThis section deals with various people who have been awarded The George Cross (GC) Medal for bravery. It is the UK's highest award for bravery by a civilian or a military person where the award of the Victoria Cross (VC) is not applicable. In order of precedence, the George Cross is second only to the Victoria Cross. As no person has won both awards, they can be considered as equals. Since its introduction, the George Cross can be awarded posthumously. The Seagrim family has won both the Victoria Cross and George Cross; a different brother winning each of the medals. The George Cross has been awarded twice to a group of people, as distinct from an individual: The Island of Malta in 1942 and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in November 1999. History of the George Cross The George Cross When, in 1940, King George VI instituted the George Cross and George Medal the total nature of World War Two had brought war into all civilian life, and there were many acts of outstanding gallantry for which the terms of award of the existing non-military medals were deemed to be inappropriate. Initially only the George Cross could be issued posthumously, but following a new warrant in 1978, the George Medal can be now be issued posthumously. When the George Cross was introduced, it superseded the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM) whose living recipients were required to exchange their EGM for the George Cross. Following an amended warrant in December 1971, surviving recipients of the Albert Medal (AM) and Edward Medal (EM) exchanged their medal for the George Cross. During World War Two (1939-45) there were instances when it was not easy to decide whether a Victoria Cross or a George Cross was the more proper award. The George Cross was intended to be an award for outstanding civilian bravery, but as many people in the armed forces were unavoidably engaged in work not appropriate for strictly military awards, they became eligible for the George Cross equally with civilians. Consequently, 76 of the first 100 awards were made to members of the armed forces. A complete tally of the 152 direct awards of the George Cross up to 1985 shows that only 49 have gone to civilians. Awards of the George Cross have now become so rare that few people are ever likely to see one, or its recipient. The George Cross is of silver, with the words "For Gallantry" as described in the warrant, and is suspended from a dark blue ribbon one and half inches wide, and is worn on the left breast before all other medals and orders except the Victoria Cross. Ladies not in uniform wear the Cross, suspended from a wide bow of blue ribbon, below the left shoulder. Each Cross is made by the Royal Mint and engraved on the reverse with the recipient's name and date of the London Gazette in the case of direct awards and for the exchanged EGMs, and the date of the action for exchanged AMs and EMs. Holders of both the GC and GMThe George Medal was instituted at the same time as the George Cross. The George Medal is the second highest award for bravery for a civilian, after the George Cross. Although a lower ranking medal than the George Cross, it has still been very rarely awarded. Before the warrant was changed in 1978, the George Medal could not be awarded posthumously. A total of eight people have won both the George Cross and George Medal. Of this group of eight, two have won the George Medal twice. Of this group of eight, one civilian person has been awarded both the George Cross and George Medal. For the details of these eight people click here. The Island of MaltaThe only award of the George Cross which was not published in the London Gazette. The award was made by King George VI to the Governor of Malta by letter dated 15 April 1942: "To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history.", (sgd) George R.I. The citation read by President Roosevelt when he visited Malta in December 1943 read: "In the name of the USA I salute the Island of Malta, its people and its defenders, who, in the cause of freedom and justice and decency throughout the world, have rendered valorous service far above and beyond the call of duty. Under repeated fire from the skies Malta stood alone and unafraid in the centre of the sea, one tiny, bright flame in the darkness - a beacon of hope in the clearer days when which have come. Malta's bright story of human fortitude and courage will be read by posterity with wonder and gratitude through all the ages. What was done in this island maintains all the highest traditions of gallant men and women who from the beginning of time have lived and died to preserve the civilisation for all mankind.", (sgd) Franklin D. Roosevelt, 7 December 1943. The Royal Ulster ConstabularyThe Queen has awarded the George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary to honour the courage and dedication of police officers and their families during the troubles in Northern Ireland. The award, formally agreed by the Queen, was made on the advice of Government ministers. Announcing the conferring by Her Majesty the Queen of the George Cross for Gallantry to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Buckingham Palace said the award was to honour the courage and dedication of officers and their families who have shared their hardships. The full citation reads as follows: "For the past 30 years the Royal Ulster Constabulary has been both the bulwark against, and the main target of, a sustained and brutal terrorist campaign. The Force has suffered heavily in protecting both sides of the community from danger - 302 officers have been killed in the line of duty and thousands more injured, many seriously. Many officers have been ostracised by their own community and others have been forced to leave their homes in the face of threats to them or their families. "As Northern Ireland reaches a turning point in its political development this award is made to recognise the collective courage and dedication to duty of all of those who have served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and who have accepted the danger and stress this has brought to them and their families." The RUC was established in 1922 after the dividing of Ireland into the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. The RUC is distinct in many ways from other UK police forces, and the RUC is the only police force in the UK where its officers always carry firearms. |
Huzzah! I hope Simon receives this medal — he deserves it.
Indeed, and his family and friends will no doubt be happy that his heroism has been officially recognized in such an appropriate way. Hopefully, this will bring them some small degree of comfort.
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