Wolverhampton war hero Private Luke Cole was today presented with the Military Cross by the Queen for his outstanding bravery during fighting in Afghanistan.
Pte Cole, of Bradmore, is only the third member of the Territorial Army to be awarded the gallantry medal in the past 15 years. He achieved the feat during a seven-month tour of duty with the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment in Helmand Province last year.
The 22-year-old former truck driver was shot twice but refused treatment so he could beat off a bid by the enemy to grab the body of a comrade killed in battle as a trophy. He lost five inches of bone from his left thigh and was also wounded in the stomach but is recovering.
He said he “doesn’t feel like a hero” and wants to return to the front line when he gets better. “I wasn’t expecting a medal because I was just doing my job,” he said.
Pte Aaron Holmes, of Netherton, was also at today’s Buckingham Palace ceremony to receive the Military Cross he won during the same tour with the 2nd Mercians.
7 Comments
a true brit
well done luke england needs more like you
Two lads who were ‘just doing their job’ according to them, whilst others at home can’t even be bothered to get one! These lads show all the qualities of bravery, selflessness and true duty that is missing so much from the ‘couldn’t give a monkeys’ attitude that has infected our society. I for one am very grateful for the work these lads and their comrades do and thank them. Your a credit to your regiments, family, Country and most importantly, yourselves. Well done boys and thankyou.
Well done chaps. It’s a shame when these guys make the news in the local media but morons such as Abu Qatada and Abu Hamza make the national press.
You might not feel like a hero, but you most certainly are….Congtratulations young man.
Don’t forget the TA do this job as well as their own job when (or if) they come home. Some regular servicemen belittle the Territorial Army’s contribution and that’s a disgrace.
Well done u deserve more than medals u are true heroes x