Despite Gunshot Wound, Lance Protected Comrades

A British soldier has been awarded the second highest military award - the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - for bravery in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Simon Moloney of The Blues and Royals was seriously injured by a gunshot wound but continued to provide protection for his comrades for 90 minutes in temperatures in excess of 40 degrees.

The 23-year-old from St Albans told Sky News: "I thought it was game over - a gunshot wound to the neck, I thought the artery would have been cut … so you've got about three minutes to live which is why I carried on."

Lance Corporal Moloney was part of a troop who landed by helicopter deep in an insurgent stronghold as part an operation to gather intelligence and disrupt the enemy.
It was when he was providing watch from a roof that he came under attack from an enemy sharpshooter.
A bullet ripped through his neck missing his vital arteries and voice box by millimetres and hurling him from the rooftop.

Lance Corporal Moloney was extracted against his will

Shouting through his throat injury and over the crackle of enemy sniper rounds he passed vital target information to win the firefight before being extracted by helicopter against his will.
Describing how he feels about being given the award Lance Corporal Moloney told Sky News: "It's not really sunk in yet but over the moon."
A total of 117 members of the armed forces are recognised in the latest round of military honours.

Lance Corporal Sinead Dodds of the Royal Army Medical Corps

Among them is 21-year-old Lance Corporal Sinead Dodds of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who has been awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.
She helped free her commander who was trapped when the armoured vehicle they were travelling in was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
Despite having lost her hearing and being in pain she moved him - a man at least twice her weight - into a position where she could begin providing life-saving first aid in the darkness.
Lance Corporal Dodds told Sky News: "It was hard but I think the adrenalin kicked in and I didn't feel any pain at that point."

RAF Flight Lieutenant Charlie Lockyear and Master Aircrew Bob Sunderland

Another act of bravery came from the RAF's Flight Lieutenant Charlie Lockyear from Teignmouth, Devon, and Master Aircrew Bob Sunderland from Englefield Green, Surrey, who landed their Chinook helicopter under fire from Afghan insurgents.
Flt Lt Lockyear, the Captain, was given the Distinguished Flying Cross while MACR Sunderland was awarded a Mention in Dispatches.


Skynews