Soldier awarded with posthumous commendation ‘a hero’

A brave soldier who was killed when assisting a wounded colleague has been hailed a "hero" and honoured with a posthumous commendation.

Captain Mark Hale has been awarded with the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service, which recognises work of merit in army operations, the Bournemouth Daily Echo reports.

The soldier was helping a wounded member of the armed forces to a helicopter when he was hit by an explosion in the Sangin Valley, Afghanistan in August 2009.

Tributes have poured in for Captain Hale, with his commanding officer Colonel Robert John Thomson saying: "His ability to absorb work, pressure and other people’s worries was genuinely legendary."

His family have now organised a fundraising gala in his honour to raise money for the Undentable Trust, a foundation set up in Captain Hale’s memory to support members of the armed forces.

Meanwhile, world record-holding endurance athlete Mike Buss is preparing to embark on both the London and Brighton marathons in April in the hope of raising £100,000 for the Help for Heroes charity.

Posted by Simon Williams