Coroner hails decorated soldier's bravery after Afghan blasts kill five comrades

Published on Friday 19 March 2010 20:50

A CORONER praised the bravery of a decorated soldier who tended casualties under gunfire after a Taleban bomb attack killed five of his comrades.

Serjeant Jaime Moncho, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, gave evidence at an inquest yesterday on the day it was announced he had been awarded a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his bravery.

His 2 Rifles comrades died in two explosions while on a patrol to reassure Afghans in Helmand Province last July.

The inquest at Wiltshire Coroner's Court heard Sjt Moncho braved enemy fire to help his fallen comrades and organise an evacuation of the injured from the scene.

Coroner David Ridley praised the speed with which he took control of the situation and began treating casualties while under fire.

Mr Ridley told him: "It is tragic that it (the medal) came out of this incident but you quite rightly deserve it."

The coroner recorded verdicts of unlawful killing in the case of every soldier, adding that the Taleban murderers would be charged if they were ever caught.

Sjt Moncho's medal citation reads: "His supreme courage in the face of the most testing of circumstances was exemplary and his personal actions steadied all those around him."

His comrades who died were Corporal Jonathan "Jay" Horne, 28, from Walsall; Rifleman William Aldridge, 18, from Bromyard, Herefordshire; Rifleman James Backhouse, 18, from Castleford, West Yorkshire; Rifleman Joseph Murphy, 18, from Castle Bromwich, West Midlands and Rifleman Daniel Simpson, 20, from Croydon, south London.

Rfn Aldridge, Rfn Backhouse and Rfn Simpson were hit in the first Taleban blast, which killed Rfn Backhouse instantly.

Cpl Horne and Rfn Murphy went to their aid after the explosion. Rfn Murphy was carrying Rfn Simpson when they were killed by a second blast.

Sgt Moncho told the inquest he was about 50 metres behind the first unit, with no radio communication. Continuing forward, he caught sight of the casualties.

"At that stage I heard a crack and a thump – a possible round of small arms fire," he said. "At that time we had to formulate very quickly a set of battle orders to react to this."