There are still heroes ...

There are times when I have read stories of great acts of heroism in the past and by comparison our own age seems very humdrum and ordinary by comparison.

But perhaps this feeling is just an example of "Any century but this and any country but his own."

There are other times when you hear stories in which 21st century human beings have displayed courage every bit as great as in real history or the most extraorinary legends or Hollywood films. I have heard two such in the last week.

A few days ago, a parachute training exercise nearly went very wrong some 3000 feet above Germany. A soldier's first parachute did not deploy properly and became tangled in the undercarriage of a light aircraft.

The civilian pilot of the aircraft left the controls for 30 seconds to cut free the soldier, enabling him to completed the jump using his reserve parachute.

The pilot, who has asked to remain anonymous, realised the parachute-jump instructor was in trouble when he saw him frantically waving.

"The pilot showed significant bravery and skill," said the MoD.

"We are unaware of a rescue like this happening before."


And now it has been announced that a Royal Marine who threw himself on a grenade to save his comrades' lives is to receive the George Cross.

Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher, 24, from Solihull, in the West Midlands triggered a trip wire in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in February. He immediately dropped to the ground and lay across the grenade, being blown into the air as it went off.

L/Cpl Croucher said: "All I could do in the moment was shout out 'grenade' before diving on top of it."

Fortunately and amazingly his bag, which was crammed with equipment, cushioned the explosion, and although he was thrown in the air, L/Cpl Croucher survived with a nosebleed and a headache. His three companions also survived. Without his act of heroism all four would probably have been killed or maimed.

His commanding officer said "This was a magnificent act which absolutely typified the highest traditions of commando service."


In almost every generation there have been those who expressed disappointment in those who were coming after them. But I cannot think of any clearer examples than L/Cpl Croucher and the anonymous pilot to demonstrate that there are still heroes.

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