Heros: We were just doing our jobs

They could have been a bunch of ordinary lads on a day out in London. But these are no ordinary lads. And this is no ordinary occasion.

They are young men – heroes – being honoured at Buckingham Palace by the Queen with the Military Cross for their outstanding bravery in the face of a fierce and unrelenting enemy in Afghanistan.

Most other distinguished callers responding to an invitation to the palace would opt to drive in. But not these humble guests.

They chose to walk in through the heavily-guarded palace gates together.

Immaculately groomed and looking dashing in their smart and pristine non-combat uniforms, Private Luke Cole, from Wolverhampton, and Private Aaron Holmes, from Dudley, are on their best behaviour in the presence of the monarch.

They have sworn an oath of allegiance to the Queen.

And yesterday, she paid tribute to them, and five others from The 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcester and Foresters), for their courage during operations in Helmand Province between April and October, 2007.

Pte Cole, a 22-year-old former truck driver, is just the third TA soldier in 15 years to receive the accolade.

Modestly looking at his medal – his third to date for service in Iraq and Afghanistan – he said of the presentation ceremony: “It was a bit nerve-racking at the start, but it was all right when it was finished.

“I don’t remember much of it really. Once I saw it (his medal) and received it, I was really calm then.

“It has been exciting.”

Pte Cole was involved in an operation to clear the Taliban front line in an area of Gasmir when he came under intense fire. He was shot twice, but continued to fight on over open ground to help a comrade.

He lost five inches of bone from the left thigh and was also wounded in the stomach suffering critical injuries from which he is still recovering and receiving treatment.

Put in the same situation, he told me he would do the same again.

“I am not a hero,” he says.

“I was just doing my job – that is what anybody else would have done for me.

“I would go back tomorrow if I had to.”

The unique, powerful and impenetrable bond between the soldiers is clearly evident as they regroup for a celebratory lunch at the Wellington Barracks, across the road from the palace.

It is a time to stand down, relax and enjoy the special occasion. Sipping glasses of bubbly and mingling with military top guns and guests, they shared experiences and stories with one another and exchanged jokes. Pte Holmes, now 20, is equally as self-effacing as his Black Country peer.

He was just 19 when he was on sentry in the Upper Gereshk Valley when he identified armed enemy forces and he and a section of his company came under fire from multiple enemy positions.

He placed himself between the enemy and a fallen comrade during the incident, providing covering fire for others to recover the injured soldier.

Later, having regrouped with the rest of his platoon, they were able to defeat the enemy without further casualties. On receiving the honour from the Queen, who he thought was nice and chatty, he said: “It has been fantastic.

“She asked me how I was doing and where I was based. She said she hoped I had a good day. I was pretty nervous. It is my first medal.”

With him were his father, John, and 22-year-old sister, Susan.

“It is a really wonderful achievement,” beamed a proud Mr Holmes.

“They sign up to do a job, and go out and do that job, and they do it very, very professionally.” Equal in praise is the battalion’s commanding officer, Colonel Simon Banton.

Raising a toast to the group which he describes as “models of what it is to be a Mercian soldier”, he hailed their “magnificent individual acts of courage” before adding: “I feel enormously proud. I know that every soldier today will be saluting you and your achievements.”

All too soon it is time to leave the glamour of Buckingham Palace and the day’s events behind and return to the grind and normality of every day life – though their lives are anything but normal.

It has been a special day for them all, and one they will always remember.