In April, Sgt Noel Connolly of 42 Commando was on patrol in Kandahar when he encountered a suicide-terrorist on a motorcycle.
The sergeant said he then stepped into the road and ordered the man to stop in Pashtu.
He added: “He stalled the bike and fell off, then started pushing it away from us. Eventually he stopped again, straddled it and turned to face us. I closed in on him and as I got to within ten metres there was a loud crack from halfway down the bike.
“That’s when I saw a small toggle switch had been fitted to his handlebars. As soon as he went for the toggle again I rushed him. I grabbed him by the front of his shirt and hauled him off.”
The motorbike’s frame was found to contain 154lbs of explosive. The bomber was handed to police and jailed for 18 years.
He has now received the Military Cross for his actions. And well he deserves it.
