Scots soldier awarded Military Cross for bravery

A SOLDIER who risked his life to save wounded comrades in Afghanistan has been awarded the Military Cross.Corporal Keith Mitchell, 29, of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, was commended for his “courage and selflessness” under fire.

He stood in open ground to draw enemy fire away from comrades during an attack in Pulpalzay, Helmand, in March last year. He was a member of one of two sections which were ambushed and pinned down for half an hour.

Two of the enemy positions increased their fire and directed a series of rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) at the soldiers. One RPG burst in the air, showering the soldiers of the other section in shrapnel and injuring four of them.

Cpl Mitchell abandoned cover and stood up in open ground, so the enemy fired at him instead.

With rounds raining down on him, he fired three accurate rifle grenades to suppress enemy fire, which ceased immediately allowing the wounded men to be evacuated.

Cpl Mitchell, of Maryhill, Glasgow, said: “I just thought that if I could push forward about five metres, I could fire so we could do something about the attack. It may be hard to believe but I wasn’t even thinking about the incoming fire, I was just concentrating on firing my weapon and then watching the shot to make sure it was accurate.”

• A soldier who braved Taleban fire to rescue three children has been awarded the Military Cross.

Corporal Carl Taylor used his body as a shield to carry the boys, aged between three and seven, back to their mothers.

Cpl Taylor, 25, of 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was a month into his tour of Afghanistan when the incident occurred on a joint operation with the Afghan police in Helmand Province on 10 March last year.