Inquest hears of 'hero' soldiers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8202443.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The family of a soldier killed by the Taliban have called for three comrades who tried to save his life to be honoured with bravery awards.

Sgt Jonathan Mathews, of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, died on 28 July last year in Afghanistan.

Three of his comrades battled for 40 minutes, under heavy fire, to save his life.

At an inquest into his death, a coroner said he was surprised they had not received awards.

At the time of his death Sgt Mathews, 35, from Penicuik, near Edinburgh, was attached to 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment Battle Group in southern Afghanistan, training the developing Afghan National Army (ANA).

An inquest heard that he was on a joint foot patrol with the ANA helping to protect Afghan Police in a town near the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah.

I am surprised there were no further casualties and that is down to the bravery of those involved. You three displayed huge courage regardless of your own personal safety David Masters Asst deputy coroner, Wiltshire and Swindon

Just after 1000 BST women and children were seen to flee the area, an indication that Taliban fighters lay ahead, and the patrol went to investigate.

The group split into two teams as they came under small arms fire and Sgt Mathews moved into a ditch to take cover and return fire. As he held up his rifle to shoot, he was hit by a single bullet from an AK47 in his left shoulder.

Signalman Lee Townson ran to his aid but could not get a radio signal to call for help so had to crawl out of the ditch, while being shot at to get a better signal.

He told the inquest: "As I did so there were bullets landing around me so I threw myself to the ground and had to monkey crawl towards him.

"He lost consciousness and I couldn't get a signal so I had to crawl back to the compound to radio the other team.

The soldier managed to drag Sgt Mathews for 10 metres to the compound where Capt Ben Foster and medic L/Cpl Matthew Narusberg came to their aid.

Camp Bastion

For 40 minutes the soldiers, along with ANA troops, battled to save Sgt Mathews as they stretchered him out of the compound so that he could be airlifted to Camp Bastion for emergency surgery. He died before arrival.

After giving evidence, Signalman Townson was thanked by Sgt Mathews' widow Shona and embraced by his father Maj William Mathews.

Assistant deputy coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, David Masters, recorded a verdict of unlawful killing while on active service.

He said: "It is difficult for us to appreciate the circumstances of this rescue mission, but throughout all of it these brave personnel were under fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

"I am surprised there were no further casualties and that is down to the bravery of those involved. You three displayed huge courage regardless of your own personal safety in the attempt to recover Sgt Mathews.

"It is difficult for me to appreciate why none of you have received any awards. Awards that I consider you fully deserve and I am supported in what I am saying by Sgt Mathew's family."

After the hearing Mrs Mathews, who has a daughter Meghan and stepson William, said: "I just want to say thank you to the boys for everything they did, they could have been killed themselves.

"They should get recognition for what they did to try and save Jon."

Sgt Mathews was a third generation soldier who had served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo.