Bomb disposal hero killed in Afghanistan to be awarded George Cross

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 14th March 2010

[naturalman1975]

A bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan will be awarded a posthumous George Cross.

Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, 30, of the Royal Logistic Corps, died near Sangin in central Helmand Province on October 31 last year.

The Ministry of Defence will announce the award on Friday, senior military sources have revealed.

His widow, Christina, is expected to receive the medal from the Queen later this year.

The George Cross ranks along with the Victoria Cross as the country's highest award for gallantry - but is awarded to military personnel for acts of heroism not in the presence of the enemy.

[naturalman1975]

Bravest of the Brave

[skeeter]

I’m tired of seeing the best die while the worst continue to shoot off their mouths.

[ConorMacNessa]

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[rmlew]

I think bomb disposal engineers should be eligible for the Victoria Cross. How is it really different than getting killed by an artillery shell fired from 20 miles away?

[naturalman1975]

You’d get the George Cross for courage under distant artillery fire as well.

The GC is equivalent in status and stature to the VC. It it not second best. And it was, in fact, largely created because of the need to decorate bomb disposal experts in the Second World War.

[naturalman1975]

For context and for the record, in order of date of award, in World War II, the first twenty GCs were given for:

Thomas Hopper Alderson GC, Air Raid Precaution, Bomb Rescue
Lieutenant Robert Davies GC, Royal Engineers, Bomb Disposal
Sapper George Wylie GC, Royal Engineers, Bomb Disposal
Dr Arthur Douglas Merriman GC, DFC, OBE, MA, MEd, DSc, CIMechE, FRSE, Department of Supply, Bomb Disposal
Special Constable Brandon Moss GC, Conventry Constabulary, Bomb Rescue
Roy Harris GC, Air Raid Precaution, Bomb Disposal
Squadron Leader Eric Moxey GC, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Bomb Disposal
Lieutenant John Patton GC CBE, Royal Canadian Engineers, Bomb Disposal
Sub-Lieutenant Peter Danckwerts GC, MBE, FRS, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Bomb Disposal
Chief Petty Officer Reginald Ellingworth GC, Royal Navy, Bomb Disposal
Lieutenant-Commander Richard Ryan GC, Royal Navy, Bomb Disposal
Lieutenant William Eastman GC, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Bomb Disposal
Captain Robert Jephson-Jones GC, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Bomb Disposal
Sub-Lieutenant Robert Armitage GC, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Bomb Disposal
Sub-Lieutenant John Herbert Babington GC, OBE, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Bomb Disposal
Sub-Lieutenant Richard Moore GC, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Bomb Disposal
Leonard Harrison GC, Air Ministry, Bomb Disposal
Squadron Leader John Noel Dowland, Royal Air Force, Bomb Disposal
Sub-Lieutenant John Duppa-Miller GC, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Bomb Disposal
Sub-Lieutenant William Taylor GC, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Bomb Disposal

This is what is awarded for bomb disposal, and since 1940, it has a huge tradition behind it.

[HiJinx]

May God Rest his soul...

[Kathy in Alaska]

Last Post

RIP Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid
Royal Logistic Corps, 2nd Rifles

Flowers of the Forest

[SandRat]

If there's a trip one way, he said,
Into battle grim for me,
Don't let them say when I am dead:
He died to save democracy;
Nor let them say: He fought to free
Enslaved nations, white or brown;
Just print these simple words for me:



He would not let his cobbers down.