Army bomb disposal experts honoured with George Crosses

230PM GMT eighteen March 2010

Previous of Images Next Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid Photo DAVID GILL Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes (left), a explosve ordering specialist, seized the event during a proof of cave clearway techniques to press Mr Ainsworth (right) about the need for reinforcements. Photo LEWIS WHYLD

One of the pair, Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, 30, of the Royal Logistic Corps, was killed attempting to defuse one of the inclination last October.

Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes, 30, from Telford, Shropshire, and additionally of the Royal Logistic Corps, perceived his endowment for what was described as ""the singular majority superb action of explosve ordnance ordering ever available in Afghanistan"".

Official reference Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes, The Royal Logistic Corps Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan declared George Cross" story The "warrior" killed by a explosve on his last day in Afghanistan British explosve ordering consultant killed in Afghanistan declared Bomb consultant summary of favourite inquisition hears

Last Aug he distant 7 mutinous bombs by palm but any protecting wardrobe so five severely bleeding soldiers and the bodies of dual passed comrades could be recovered.

In October, he caused a stir when he told Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, on a revisit to Afghanistan, that some-more infantry were indispensable on the ground.

Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup pronounced ""As one of the tip dual operational honours, the George Cross is awarded usually rarely. Its recipients contingency have displayed the really top levels of gallantry.

""The actions of Staff Sgt Hughes and the late Staff Sgt Schmid encounter this majority perfectionist exam in full measure.

""Their unselfish commitment, ardent friendship to avocation and unrivalled aplomb are both grand and humbling.""

The George Cross ranks along with the Victoria Cross as Britain"s top endowment for bravery.

It is presented to civilians and members of the armed forces who lift out acts of good intrepidity not in the participation of the enemy.

A sum of 161 people have perceived the George Cross, together with the dual soldiers whose awards were voiced today.

Staff Sgt Schmid, who was well known as Oz, was innate in Truro, Cornwall, but lived in Winchester, Hampshire, with his mother Christina and stepson Laird, five.

He was killed perplexing to lame an makeshift explosve device (IED) nearby Sangin in executive Helmand Province on Oct 31 last year, only a week prior to he was due to fly behind to his family in Britain.

Over the summer he took piece in Operation Panther"s Claw, a vital British-led descent to transparent populated areas in executive Helmand of Taliban insurgents.

During his five months in Afghanistan, he done 70 IEDs protected and found eleven bomb-making centres.

After his death, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Thomson, autocratic military military officer of 2 Rifles Battle Group, described him as ""simply the bravest and majority bold man I have ever met"".

Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Bex, autocratic military military officer of the counter-IED charge force, pronounced he was a ""legend"" whose ""gallant actions and scapegoat will never be forgotten"".

At Staff Sgt Schmid"s wake in Truro Cathedral, his widow called on universe leaders to do some-more to strengthen soldiers portion in the war-torn country.

Mrs Schmid pronounced ""Olaf and infantry similar to him stick on to offer normal soldier values, to sexually strengthen the nation they love, the ideals and generally their families, communities and each other.""

The last George Cross target was Royal Marines reservist Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher, from Birmingham, who risked his hold up to save his comrades by throwing himself on a live explosive device in Afghanistan in Feb 2008.