multiple to move into cover. This is all the more impressive from a Private soldier with only six months’ experience in the Army. Kennedy acted with a level of leadership and situational awareness far above that expected of a Private soldier, demonstrating selfless bravery and a cool head under fire.
MiD
Brown’s OMLT and a Platoon of Warriors from the Afghan National Army (ANA). Brown’s bravery and commitment were sustained for months; he took the fight to the enemy at every opportunity and his leadership inspired the OMLT and ANA.
Maj Neil Darren Grant aged 34
Capt Duncan Simon Whittick Hadland aged 30
As a junior Major, Grant trained and led the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) in Helmand Province between Mar and October 2009 through some of the most dangerous and bold operations on Op Herrick 10. He has conducted operations deep within insurgent- controlled areas and has been at the forefront of deliberate operations - most notably during Op Panchai Palang. The BRF has had a massively disproportionate effect to its relatively small size in defeating elements of the insurgency. Grant’s leadership under fire and persistent courage have been exemplary.
Pte Alexander Robert Kennedy aged 19
Lieutenant Hadland was a Platoon Commander in Helmand Province. In June 2009, he led a patrol north from Patrol Base Keenan in order to establish enemy strengths and dispositions. Soon after pushing beyond the cover of the base, Hadland and his men were contacted and pinned down by accurate and sustained insurgent small arms and Rocket Propelled Grenade fire from a significant and well-prepared enemy. Caught in the open, knowing that, without rapid movement, his Platoon would soon sustain casualties, Hadland stood up, lead his men across the open ground to take up positions in cover and ensured that a heavy weight of fire was brought to bear on the insurgent positions. Hadland’s direction tipped the balance decisively in his Platoon’s favour and the insurgents were forced to withdraw north. Hadland’s actions dealt the insurgents a considerable setback and bought the occupants of Patrol Base Keenan much-needed time and space in the face of increasing insurgent pressure. Hadland demonstrated exceptional leadership and tactical ability under extreme pressure leading to the defeat of a well-prepared and numerically stronger insurgent force. Hadland’s courage, determination and leadership inspired his men, gave great heart to others and had wider reaching consequences.
Sgt Andrew Peter McNulty aged 29
Pte Kennedy was a Rifleman in Helmand Province in June 2009 when he was involved in his Company’s deliberate operation to clear an area of Garmsir. His multiple patrol suddenly came under ferocious small arms fire and a fellow soldier was caught in the first burst and dropped to the floor shot through the legs. Kennedy immediately crawled to the injured man and administered first aid. Taking control of the rest of the Section, he directed their fire and ensured that they were engaging the enemy positions. This suppressed the enemy, allowed the casualty to be extracted and the rest of the
90 October 2010
CLP had already been involved in three improvised explosive device strikes, a sniper ambush and numerous small arms attacks and had been assessed by BG(N)’s Intelligence Cell as being the enemy’s Main Effort. The convoy was on its final leg when forward vehicles were engaged from a number of enemy positions with accurate small arms and indirect fire. McNulty’s vehicle had suffered mechanical failure and he was about 1 km away. He managed to get his vehicle towed to the brow of the hill so that he could assess the situation. He could see clearly that the convoy had stopped and was taking sustained fire. McNulty made the decision to freewheel his vehicle in between the enemy and the convoy in order to bring his weapons to bear and protect his colleagues, putting himself and his crew in significant danger. His arrival placed him less than 200 metres from the enemy positions but it galvanised those around him and, after a prolonged firefight, McNulty and his crew, assisted by other FP colleagues and the convoy’s own integral firepower, succeeded in suppressing the enemy and ensured the relatively safe transit of the convoy. Only when he was completely sure that the threat had subsided did he attract the attention of a nearby FP vehicle to tow him out of the area. There is no doubt that his actions prevented the convoy from sustaining serious casualties.
In a separate incident, McNulty was in the rear vehicle of a convoy entering Nad-e ‘Ali at night. Visibility was down to but a few feet. Out of the corner of an eye McNulty saw a spinning wheel and realised quickly that a vehicle ahead of him had rolled into the canal. McNulty stopped his vehicle and, despite the extremely high threat, stripped off his helmet and body armour and leapt into the canal. The vehicle was lying on its right hand side in one metre of fast- moving water. After a prolonged struggle, he managed to open the left hand driver’s door and rip out the driver and then a passenger. Another two passengers were now submerged and running out of breathing space. After getting both individuals to remove their body armour, he performed a near Herculean feat and pulled them both through a space the size of an A4 piece of paper. In this instance, McNulty’s quick reactions and perseverance undoubtedly saved the lives of his two colleagues.
WO2 Paul Simon Muckle aged 34
Sergeant McNulty, 2ic of the Ava (Force Protection) Platoon, was providing protection to a resupply convoy delivering battle- winning supplies to Battle Group (North) (BG(N)) locations within the Upper Sangin Valley. At the time of the incident, the
WO2 Muckle was serving as B Company’s Company Sergeant Major during Operation Panchai Palang in Babaji in Helmand Province in July 2009. On the second day of intense fighting, the Company took a
The Mercian Eagle
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