Matthew Croucher

Matthew Croucher GC ( born December 14, 1983 in Solihull, England ) is a British soldier of the Royal Marines.

Life

Croucher grew up in Solihull, England. At the age of 16 he joined the Royal Marines. After his training, he was stationed in Iraq twice. He was then reservist and went as a private security guard in Iraq. Croucher was here working for the United Nations. September 2007, he returned to the Royal Marines and was stationed in Afghanistan.

Awarded the George Cross

During a mission on 11 February 2008 near Sangin, a town in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher triggered accidentally from a booby trap when he stumbled in the dark over a wire. With a jump on the hand grenade triggered thereby presumably he saved his comrade 's life. His backpack and his protective vest absorbed the force of the explosion so far as to that Croucher even with relatively minor injuries escaped, his companions were unharmed. On 23 July 2008 the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom announced that Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher is awarded for his courage and the protection of his comrades at risk of their lives, the George Cross. The award is in addition to the Victoria Cross, the highest British award for bravery.

Publications

• 2009: Bulletproof, ISBN 978-1846057045
• 2010: Flashpoint, ISBN 9780099543138