News Story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4358921.stm)
It is even more amazing when you read the full text of the citation Citation (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4360461.stm)
"Old iron balls" Brave man :)
Wow. :blink: I have respect for that man!
wow.
ill join his team in a game of CS any day :)
seen it on the news this morning at 5.30
his scalp is covered in scars from the wounds ...
wot a guy !!!!!!
apparantly guys who's names are put forward for VC's are either already dead or only have a 10% chance of living from their injuries
very brave man
:worship: :worship: 8)
a brave bloke.
as a matter of interest, I knew a VC holder called Ted Chapman who won his in Germany 1945.
a lovely guy who sadly passed away in 2002.
LINK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Thomas_Chapman)
You couldn't make this stuff up!
here's a snippet from his obituary
QuoteEDWARD CHAPMAN, who has died aged 82, was awarded a VC as a corporal in the final stages of the North West Campaign in Germany.
His citation recorded that: "On April 2 1945 a company of the Monmouthshire Regiment crossed the Dortmund-Ems canal and was ordered to assault the ridge of the Teutoberger Wald, which dominates the surrounding country.
"This ridge is steep, thickly wooded and is ideal defensive country. It was, moreover, defended by a battalion of German officer cadets and their instructors, all of them picked men and fanatical Nazis.
"Corporal Chapman was advancing with his section in single file along a narrow track, when the enemy suddenly opened fire with machine-guns at short range, inflicting heavy casualties and causing some confusion.
"Corporal Chapman immediately ordered his section to take cover, and, seizing the Bren gun, he advanced alone, firing the gun from his hip, and mowed down the enemy at point blank range, forcing them to retire in disorder.
"At this point, however, his company was ordered to withdraw; but Corporal Chapman and his section were still left in their advance position, as the order could not be got forward to them. The enemy then began to close up to Corporal Chapman and his isolated section and, under cover of intense machine-gun fire, they made determined charges with the bayonets.
"Corporal Chapman again rose with his Bren gun to meet the assaults and on each occasion halted their advance. He had now nearly run out of ammunition. Shouting to his section for more bandoliers, he dropped into a hole in the ground and covered those bringing up the ammunition by lying on his back and firing the Bren gun over his shoulder."
At this point the Germans attempted to eliminate Chapman with grenades but, with a reloaded magazine, "he closed with them and once again drove the enemy back with considerable casualties. During the withdrawal of his company, the company commander had been severely wounded and left lying in the open a short distance from Corporal Chapman.
"Satisfied that his section was now secure, at any rate for the moment, he went out alone under withering fire and carried his company commander for 50 yards to comparative safety. On the way a sniper hit the officer again, wounding Corporal Chapman in the hip and, when he reached our lines, it was discovered that the officer had been killed.
"In spite of his wounds, Corporal Chapman refused to be evacuated and went back to his company until the position was fully restored two hours later.
wow again.
hats are off.
They were a lot of other medals awarded as well and all of the people who got them are brave men indeed.
/me doffs hat as mark of resrect.