Despite having broken his back, a soldier that continued to battle Afghan insurgents has been named on a list of military honours.  24-year-old Ccl Josh Griffiths, from the Mercian Regiment, has been recommended for the award by his commanding officers for performing beyond his call of duty.  He is one of the 117 servicemen and women that have been recommended for an award for their bravery and dedication.

Ccp Griffiths, from Merseyside, had been eating dinner at his base in Nad Ali, when a suicidal bomber drove a truck into the wall, (the attack happened earlier in the year, in March).  The blast from the explosion threw Ccp Griffiths so hard that he broke his back, but he continued to protect his fellow wounded soldiers and managed to stop the insurgents in the firefight that followed the blast. 

‘If I’m alive I can save my colleagues'

Alongside Ccp Griffiths at the award ceremony will be Acting L/Ccp Tuljung Gurung (28), from the Royal Gurkha Rifles, who received the Military Cross for his bravery after being shot in the helmet and almost being blown up by a grenade before physically fighting off an insurgent.  During the fight they both fell from a guard tower, causing major injuries.  He said: “I just thought, 'I don't want to die. If I am alive I can save my colleagues'”.

The Queen is due to present the medals at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace later in the year.  Ccp Griffiths is due to receive the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, one of the highest military honours there is.

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