Thread: A brave Kiwi .

Originally Posted by Albany Rifles

To the original post.....Big Brass Ones. BZ, Rifleman McKie.

Woah , explanation needed for your above quote Albany , i take the big brass ones as b0llocks and the Z is meant to be an S ,

From the times online . And some comments from people in the times .




A British soldier has won praise for his extraordinary bravery after he saved the lives of two comrades in Helmand last week by picking up a live grenade and hurling it back at the Taleban.

Rifleman James McKie, 29, a modest New Zealander, said that his first thought was, “I hope this doesn’t hurt too much”, as he lunged for the grenade, which typically operate on a time fuse of four to seven seconds.

The device exploded a split second after he threw it back, wounding Rifleman McKie and his commander from the reconnaissance platoon of 3 Rifles, but saving the lives of the men in the position.

The incident took place on March 3 amid heavy fighting in Sangin, where six members of the Rifles have died in the past week. Corporal Richard Green, a member of Rifleman McKie’s platoon, had been killed the previous day.


Rifleman McKie was on the roof of a compound with two others when they came under attack from three directions. Speaking from hospital in Helmand, he described how they returned fire, but a few minutes later heard what he mistakenly thought was a flare being fired near by.

“It was actually the fly-off lever of a grenade that had been thrown from the alleyway below,” he said.

When he saw the grenade land he realised he had to make a split second decision.

“My first thought was, ‘I hope this doesn’t hurt too much.’ That, and ‘I’ve really only got one chance to do this. If it fails, either way, doing nothing, I’m going to get the same amount of hurt’.

“We were in a high position on a compound roof. There was no way you could throw yourself off and not get injured, so I made a decision to pick up the grenade and throw it off the roof. And I threw it quite deliberately. I tried to throw it properly, to clear the roof.

“I didn’t want to do it half-arsed and have them throw it back at us or anything like that. I remember thinking that, if I didn’t pull this off, it was going to hurt. But at that stage I was pretty much committed.

“My platoon has taken a lot of casualties. I really didn’t want to see anyone else get hurt. So I committed to that course of action.

“It was dropping down into the alleyway before it detonated. As I continued to watch it, as you are trained to, I received fragmentation in my face and right arm. Because of the way Captain Kerr was positioned, he got a larger piece of fragmentation in his left leg, but otherwise no one else was seriously hurt.”

Captain Graeme Kerr, the platoon commander, was subsequently evacuated to Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham. Despite his protestations, Rifleman McKie was also evacuated to Camp Bastion hospital the next day.

“I can’t wait to get back there,” he said. “I really miss the other guys. It would absolutely break me if another one of them got hurt while I was out here.”

He was dismissive of any suggestion of bravery on his part.

“In retrospect, people keep telling me how brave I am, which I’m slightly embarrassed about. I’d like to think that anyone in that situation would have done the same or something similar because you can’t just sit there and let yourself or other people get hurt. I don’t feel particularly brave.”

Rifleman McKie originally served in the New Zealand Army but volunteered for the British Army to serve in Afghanistan.

He said: “I love soldiering. I love being here in Afghanistan. Obviously bad things happen and I can>’t go back and change it, but what I can do is try and stop things happening around me.”

“As far as the military experience goes, this is the ultimate for a career soldier. I understand there are a lot of people out here who don’t like it, who can’t wait to get home. That’s their opinion and I have to respect that, but this is what I want to do.


K Pingree wrote:
In a world where overpaid, puffed up footballers , wannabes attempting to make a name for themselves...and tv 'actors' in and out of the news..doesn't this all make a welcmome change, a real heroe that our youngsters can live up to ???
March 10, 2010 12:57 PM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
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Richard Hitchings wrote:
We can all save the lives of our soldiers by putting pressure on this corrupt government to bring our boys home now!
March 10, 2010 10:48 AM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
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Liam B wrote:
excellent story, he deserves a medal at least for this action.

Its the classic tale of war, throw back the grenades that land near you. but i doubt many people would have the guts to actually do it.

i for one would be jumping for cover.
March 10, 2010 9:43 AM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
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David Davies wrote:
Top Man James! Superb reactions, worthy of an MiD at least. I visited NZ a few years ago, great place and great people, we are so lucky that men like James are willing to join our Forces in their desperate fight. God Bless you all.
March 10, 2010 8:46 AM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
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ANTHONY GUMBS wrote:
A real British hero! A real British soldier!!

"...But it's The Thin Red Line O' Heroes...when the guns begin to shoot."
- Kipling.
March 10, 2010 5:19 AM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
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Tim McCarthy wrote:
Well done soldier...Happy returns from a grateful friend...
March 10, 2010 3:19 AM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
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Michael Anderson wrote:
Do you reckon he plays cricket? Good on yer mate.
March 10, 2010 3:18 AM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
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pete hooper wrote:
The concern for your fellow soldier and friends can be no higher,the man deserves a medal of the highest order
March 10, 2010 1:23 AM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
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Krazee Kalvin wrote:
I pray they all make it back home to enjoy life, and I hope they award him the highest award for bravery.
March 10, 2010 1:23 AM GMT on community.timesonline.co.uk
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Frank Jackson wrote:
Bravery such as this deserves recognition.
Give the man a "Gong".

by tankie
Woah , explanation needed for your above quote Albany ,

You were just confused by this part...

...a modest New Zealander...

(!)

I was too at first as the only other New Zealander around these parts is Parihaka !


Have to agree with this sentiment though...

Bravery such as this deserves recognition.
Give the man a "Gong"

He earned it!

Originally Posted by sappersgt

You were just confused by this part...(!)

I was too at first as the only other New Zealander around these parts is Parihaka !


Have to agree with this sentiment though...

He earned it!

Yup he did earn it .

Originally Posted by sappersgt

You were just confused by this part...(!)

I was too at first as the only other New Zealander around these parts is Parihaka !

Humph, whatever can you mean

Originally Posted by tankie

Yup he did earn it .

And a shower with a change of underwear)

Thinking about it if he was an Aus' they'd have had him in the Cricket Team before you could say "throw a bug on the barbie yer Pommie bas***d")

Originally Posted by dave lukins

Thinking about it if he was an Aus' they'd have had him in the Cricket Team before you could say "throw a bug on the barbie yer Pommie bas***d")

Nahh mate , bugs r in Thailand and such , in ozz its a prawn