Royal Marine who jumped on grenade awarded George Cross

Telegraph UK ^ | 22 Jul 2008 | Thomas Harding

[AreaMan]

L/Cpl Matthew Croucher will become part of a select of group of just 20 living George Cross holders when the Queen awards him the medal, which is given for acts showing the same level of heroism as the Victoria Cross.

The Marine had less than seven seconds to make up his mind on whether to risk sacrificing his own life to save his friends when the hand grenade rolled onto the ground during an operation in Afghanistan earlier this year.

Without hesitating he chose to chance death and save his three fellow Royal Marines. '

[rahbert]

quick thinking to roll over and shield himself!

[wmileo]

I read the article. What can anyone say which would be enough?

[freepertoo]

What a wonderful man! But I beg to differ with him on one significant point. It wasn’t luck...it was God’s grace.

[Jaxter]

Not sure why he didn’t get the VC as I would consider a booby trap contact with enemy. Other than that all I can say is “Wow!”.

[Bender2]

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cross:

The George Cross (GC) is the highest civil decoration of the Commonwealth of Nations. The GC is the civilian counterpart of the Victoria Cross and the highest gallantry award for civilians as well as for military personnel in actions which are not in the face of the enemy or for which purely military honours would not normally be granted. However, the VC is higher in order of precedence and would be worn first by an individual who had been awarded both decorations (which has not so far occurred).

Yet if this took place in Afghanistan, wouldn't it be considered having taken place in a war and rate the VC?

[Lx]

I am glad to see men such as this. A quick thinker too. The excerpt doesn’t say it but when he landed on the grenade, he rolled over so his backpack to the brunt of it. He suffered a bloody nose!!!!

[wideawake]

"We are the custard pie appreciation consortium
God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded 'em"

The Kinks, "The Village Green Preservation Society"

[Lokibob]

Just to clarify what you are saying

“It (the VC) is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour not in the face of the enemy.”

I agree, I do not understand.

.....Bob

[Bender2]

Re: He dived onto the floor, rolled over and used his backpack - containing a 66mm rocket[*], a large lithium battery and medical kit - to cover the lethal shrapnel fragments from the coming blast.

Gadzooks! Just wondering what would have been the results had the LAW warhead gone off?

Brave guy in any event!

From http://www.sasspecialairservice.com/sas-support-weapons.html

LAW (Light Anti Armour Weapon) replaced the 84mm Carl Gustav and the US 66mm in service with the British Army. Using the latest materials and explosive technology this one-man portable weapon is capable of destroying main battle tanks at ranges up to 500m. Accurate due to a built-in semi-automatic spotting rifle which reduces aiming errors. Penetrates armour in excess of 650mm. Built-in sight allows good low light performance; night sight provides full night capability. Due to be replaced by NLAW.

M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW)

Calibre: 66 mm
Operation: rocket
Rocket: HEAT, M18PIDB warhead, M412 fuse, M54 motor
Feed: single shot and discard
Effective Range: Up to 500m
Impact Sensor: Scrub and foliage proof
Carrying Weight: 10kg
Weight (Rocket): 1kg
Launcher length: (firing mode) 1.5m
Launcher Length: (carrying mode) 1m
Rocket length: 508 mm
Projectile Diameter: 94mm
Temp Range: -46 to + 65 C
Rear Danger Area: 20m

[ASA Vet]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2049881/posts

[Gorzaloon]

"L/Cpl Croucher was examined by a medic who recommended he should be evacuated but the Marine, who has completed three tours of Iraq, was determined to stay to fight the Taliban and within an hour had shot an insurgent approaching their position. "

I...can't think of anything to say...

[Riley]

I can. The Insurgent must have heard him clanking when he walked.

[sweetiepiezer]

My son trained with the Royal Marines when he was in the Marines. Said they are a tough group.
God Bless L/Cpl Matthew Croucher, a true hero.

[Gorzaloon]

The Insurgent must have heard him clanking when he walked.

Big. Huge. Bronze.

"Allah be praised, I am back in London and can hear Big Ben."

*Splat*

[Stoat]

Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher with his shredded rucksack. Having stepped on a trip-wire he threw himself on to the device allowing the rucksack to bear the brunt of the explosion and thereby save the lives of three colleagues

Marine who threw himself on exploding grenade to protect comrades awarded George Cross News This is London

[CarolinaPeach]

What a man.

[RichInOC]

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...Lance Corporal Matthew “Mongo” Croucher, RM. If that Bootneck is not the baddest motha on earth, he’s surely on the short list.

[BradyLS]

Croucher surely deserves the Victoria Cross, IMHO. My guess is that the only reason he didn’t get one is that the UK is not “at war” with Afghanistan, but rather at war “with Terror.” *shrug*

[RichInOC]

It looks like they did have a soldier from the Parachute Regiment who was awarded the VC posthumously in ‘06. The thing is, that guy earned it for going balls-out at the Taliban in two separate firefights. Not that Croucher clanks any less when he walks, but he and his unit weren’t actually fighting at the time. So to that extent, I understand why they gave him the George Cross instead.