Tommorrow's customer

[SandyFloor]

I went this evening to prep a floor I'll be fitting tomorrow. On the way out I noticed a frame on the wall with a photo of the guy being awarded a medal by the Queen and the medal underneath...A Conspicious Gallantry Cross. I looked him up. He was a sergeant in the Paras and he led his men out of a hopelessly outnumbered situation in Iraq 2003. It's the next down medal for bravery under fire from the VC. A real war hero.

I think I might be feeling quite humble tomorrow.

 

[White Room]

I'd be talking about him to the customer but I'm a former soldier and would want to know how he achieved the medal, just me though

 

[doug boardley]

even I'm stumped for a reply to this mate

 

[SandyFloor]

I copied some text I found:

The Parachute Regiment was based in Maysan Province, mostly quiet though they did have sporadic encounters with Iraqi guerrillas. A patrol of six Royal Military Policemen all from 156 Provost Company RMP attached to 1 PARA were surrounded and killed on 24 June, 2003 by Iraqi gunmen in Majar Al Kabir. A patrol from 1 PARA were also in Majar Al Kabir when it was ambushed by Iraqi guerrillas, coming under heavy attack. Several members of the subsequent QRF were wounded as their Chinook helicopter came under heavy ground fire as it attempted to land.

Sergeant Gordon Robertson was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - the second highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy after the Victoria Cross - as part of the awards list in October. This was the first CGC to be awarded to the Parachute Regiment.
1 and 3 PARA left Iraq along with the rest of 16 Air Assault Brigade in September.

 

[doug boardley]

Sandy, I'm gonna move this into The Arms

 

[doug boardley]

Just didn't want Joe Public reading what your customer might not want airing in public

 

[mikethetile]

we owe these brave men so much, they go into some very difficult and frightening situations and put their lives on the line

all in a days work for a living wage, they deserve our respect and full support

if it wasnt for our boys we wouldnt be free to go out everyday and earn our living

 

[SandyFloor]

Thanks for that. Did the job today and he was a great guy. Weird thing is he originates from around here ( his family still here) and not a word about it in local rags at the time. He's now in private security in war zones and no doubt making a packet. I didn't mention the medal as I know a most of these guys are modest about it and don't care for the fuss.

Got some advice from him regarding how to deal with my stepson's mother with him being in Afghanistan.....it was basically 'don't tell her anything'. Any activity she knows about will just drive her mad with worry.

It was good to meet a real hero and puts into perspective people getting all excited by celebrities which I've always found ridiculous anyway.

 

[hillhead]

Great thread Sandy,fair play to the guy.
I was in a house a couple of years ago and spotted a very important looking certificate and medal on a wall.
I got a peek anyway and this man i was working for jumped into a local big river to save a drowning boy away back in the sixties ! the award was from the Queen too.
It's lovely to meet people like this on our travels.

 

[mikethetile]

one of my customers got an award for bravery from the Queen

he took his kids to the fair and while waiting for them on a ride a lad fell of a big wheel and laid unconsious under the ride as the wheel carried on, my customer climbed under the ride and laid on top of the lad in case he tried to stand up when he regained conciousness

he had the award and press cuttings framed on the wall

 

[White Room]

Thanks for that. Did the job today and he was a great guy. Weird thing is he originates from around here ( his family still here) and not a word about it in local rags at the time. He's now in private security in war zones and no doubt making a packet. I didn't mention the medal as I know a most of these guys are modest about it and don't care for the fuss.

Got some advice from him regarding how to deal with my stepson's mother with him being in Afghanistan.....it was basically 'don't tell her anything'. Any activity she knows about will just drive her mad with worry.

It was good to meet a real hero and puts into perspective people getting all excited by celebrities which I've always found ridiculous anyway.

Some guys cannot just walk away from that kind of work but shows some real bottle though

 

[SandyFloor]

Some guys cannot just walk away from that kind of work but shows some real bottle though

I asked him about that. He told me the American forces welcome them as they can do things the Americans can't be seen to do. Diplomatic security and that kind of thing.