TA soldier is awarded Military Cross for gun battle

The Telegraph

TA soldier is awarded Military Cross for gun battle
By Auslan Cramb, Scottish Correspondent
(Filed: 29/07/2005)

A bus driver and part-time soldier who started shooting with one hand to defend a convoy after being wounded was awarded the Military Cross yesterday.



L/Cpl Darren Dickson, 22, received the medal for bravery from the Queen at a ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

He was the first soldier in the Royal Logistic Corps, and only the second member of the Territorial Army, to be awarded a Military Cross.

He was escorting a convoy taking water supplies to UK forces in Basra, southern Iraq, in May last year when he was shot in the shoulder and badly injured. He picked up his rifle and continued to fire against 40 insurgents despite bleeding heavily.

Asked yesterday why he thought he had been nominated for the honour, he said: "I can't tell. I'm no different from anyone else. It still hasn't had a chance to sink in."

L/Cpl Dickson, who was watched by his mother, said the experience had strengthened his faith in God and made him determined to become a priest. He studied law and accountancy at university but was working as a bus driver in his home city of Edinburgh when he was called up last year.

He had been in Iraq for a week when he and 23 comrades were asked to escort the convoy through a route in Basra known as The Chicken Run.

"Everyone asks you what was going through your mind at the time," he said. "You don't really think about anything. It all seems to fall into place, you do what you are meant to do.

"I felt a tremendous pain and thought I was dead at first. Everything was happening in slow motion and it took me about 10 seconds to realise I was still alive.

"I was terrified, but we were still under attack so I got up and I was walking about like John Wayne, shooting with one arm. There was blood seeping everywhere. I do not mind admitting I prayed really hard.

"Iraq has changed me physically and spiritually. I want to become a Franciscan and to be ordained.

"Before I went out, I spoke to my vocational director and we agreed Iraq would be good for me. I was told it would make or break my relationship with God."

His commanding officer, Lt Col Phil Couser said: "Darren's award is the highest gallantry award we have had in Scotland this time round, and the highest award the Scottish Transport Regiment has ever had."

L/Cpl Dickson was one of 84 Scots, including the Olympic gold medallists Shirley Robertson and Chris Hoy, who had honours bestowed on them by the Queen.

www.telegraph.co.uk . . .

Awesome job !!

I guess the lack of "ATTABOYS !" from the British members tells you all you need to know about how much they support their own troops in the war on terror.

Well done Lance Corporal Dickson.

You really do seem to have a downer on us brits.
Yes he did a good job, he drew upon his training and courage and saved lives. Its not that we dont recognise his bravery, he was awarded an MC after all, its just that we dont tend to make a big deal of it. We are proud of him but dont feel the need to trumpet his actions from the rooftops, his action on that day did that for him.
I was a soldier with 4 years active service behind me, i have seen men do brave things and we didnt make a fuss, we just had a brew and a smoke and got back to it.

That comment says more about yourself than any British member here.

I guess the John Wayne comment did it for you, eh Winchester?

First and foremost, what in the heck do you have against John Wayne?

Next, and not to be greatly overshadowed by the importance of the previous question, why exactly do some people make such a fuss over fruit salad (military decorations)? Reminds me of the beginning of Farewell to Arms really- all the lies and politics just to Hemmingway's character a medal for being present when something bad happened.

I suspect that it has something to do with the insecurity of civilians, and to a FAR lesser extent, of reservists and troops outside of the combat arms (this commend is not directed to L/Cpl Dickson, but to the Lieutenant Colonel who seemed quite concerned with what honors had been bestowed on the men of his unit throughout history). Civilians like to imagine that it could be them, a special sect of POGues (personel other-than grunts), who have some kind of irrational insecurity about their role in the force, like the reassurance that they really are soldiers.

I say just let it go. It is not the medal nor even the deed in my opinion which makes a hero, but merely being a man of such virtue that you could and would accomplish the deed given the chance (and it bears mentioning that by that definition there is more credit to one's parents for their contribution of genes and upbringing than to the man who makes use of them in the deed itself). Good on him, and good on everyone like him. Now get about your lives and try to be more like him, instead of shouting his name from the roof tops as if he were the vindicator of all humanity.

Before I go, I will add a little something I read on a Marine's webpage once: "In Vietnam, thousands of awards for heroism were earned every day... a few were even awarded."

Funny, last time I checked I WAS a British member, I'm just weeding out the commies as John Wayne would say

Happy that my post prompted some action for Lance Corporal Dickson.

- I think the British people have little trouble differentiating between support for their fathers, brothers, wives, sisters, uncles, aunties, sons and daughters out there in this war and their luke-warm feelings (at best) for the war itself.

I think it's actually a good thing when a population is not mindlessly bellowing for war, I like the fact that the British take a considered and sceptical view.
That strikes me as healthy when compared to the alternative opposite.

I have a good friend out there and the stories he returns with are horrifying.
(and this isn't about tall tales, neither of us are impressionable kids, we're in our 40's and have been around the block a bit)
I wish him a safe return every time he goes back out there.

I really cannot see how the fact that I have the gravest doubts over the entire idea of a 'war on terrorism' as it is presented to us is in any way a lack of support for my good mate or his comrades - and, incidentally, neither does he.



- Yes, well done.

As Lord Nelson said at the Battle of Trafalgar "England expects every man will do his duty."

I've tried to told myself for when I'm older and hopefully an officer in the army to carry fighting, not just for me, but my men, queen and country.