Monday, October 6, 2014

UK: 2 Wounded Warriors follow in Endurance expedition foot steps


From the Telegraph:


In the footsteps of Shackleton
Two wounded soldiers Cpl Ollie Bainbridge and L/Cpl Keith Harbridge will be joining explorers Justin Packshaw and David Hempleman-Adams to retrace part of the route of Ernest Shackleton’s epic Endurance expedition
Ollie Bainbridge, left, and Keith Harbridge have both been wounded on duty in Afghanistan 

 By Tom Rowley  5 October 2014


When Cpl Ollie Bainbridge learnt he had been awarded the Military Cross, his mother, Tracey, was furious.

Proud, of course, but furious.

He had not told his mother about the incident in Afghanistan when his armoured vehicle hit an explosive, catapulting the gunner from the turret and injuring the driver.

Cpl Bainbridge was singled out for his bravery after dragging the driver to a crater and lying on top of him, shielding him from enemy fire.

However, despite his bravery, Cpl Bainbridge’s mother was not impressed. The last soldier to be awarded the MC in his regiment, the Royal Dragoon Guards, had received the honour posthumously.

“When I first told my mum about the MC she was angry,” said the soldier, now 26. “She kept saying, 'I like it, but will you stop doing dangerous things now?’ ” His answer, it seems, was a determined 'no’.

Today Cpl Bainbridge, who had to return from Afghanistan after being wounded by a Taliban grenade, will fly to Argentina to begin a 2,000-mile voyage through the Southern Ocean, regarded as some of the world’s most treacherous waters.

Accompanied by L/Cpl Keith Harbridge, who was also wounded in Afghanistan, and the explorers Justin Packshaw and David Hempleman-Adams, he will retrace part of the route of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance expedition, which set off from Britain a century ago aiming to make the first successful crossing of Antarctica....

Much more here.

No comments: