Matthew Croucher

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Croucher's backpack he was wearing during the incident in February 2008. Exhibited in the Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum in London .

Matthew Croucher , GC (born December 14, 1983 in Solihull , England ) is a British soldier in the Royal Marines .

Life

Croucher grew up in Solihull, England. At the age of 16 he joined the Royal Marines. After his training, he was stationed in Iraq twice . He then became a reservist and went to Iraq as a private security guard. Croucher worked for the United Nations . In September 2007 he returned to the Royal Marines and was stationed in Afghanistan .

Awarded the George Cross

During an operation on February 11, 2008 near Sangin , a town in Helmand province in Afghanistan, Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher accidentally set off a booby trap when he tripped over a wire in the dark. With one jump on the hand grenade that was triggered, he probably saved his comrade's life. His rucksack and protective vest absorbed the force of the explosion so much that Croucher got away with comparatively minor injuries, his comrades were unharmed. On July 23, 2008, the UK Department of Defense announced that Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher would be awarded the George Cross for his courage and protecting his comrades at the risk of his own life . Alongside the Victoria Cross, the award is the highest British award for bravery and, unlike the Cross, is also awarded if the decorated deed did not take place "in the face of the enemy".

Publications

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ mod.uk: Royal Marine Reservist to receive the George Cross
personal data
SURNAME Croucher, Matthew
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Croucher, Matt
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British soldier in the Royal Marines
DATE OF BIRTH December 14, 1983
PLACE OF BIRTH Solihull , England