A HEROIC Scot who led a rally to repel a Taliban death squad targeting Prince Harry that breached the walls of Britain's main military base in Afghanistan is to receive the Military Cross for bravery.
Sergeant Roy Geddes, 43, of Elgin, is only the second member of the RAF to receive the honour for action in Afghanistan.
The married father-of-three was called into action in September last year to repel the attack on Camp Bastion during which Prince Harry was moved to a guarded location.
The Government said at the time that Captain Wales – as Harry is known to the Army – was never in danger, although he was present during what was known as Battle of Bastion.
Some 15 Taliban insurgents attacked the base, home to 28,000 British and US troops, killing two US marines. Eight coalition troops – including four of the RAF Regiment – and one civilian contractor were wounded.
The insurgents also destroyed six US jets, three refuelling stations and damaged six aircraft hangars during the two-hour fire fight.
Sources said at the time that 14 attackers were killed and another was wounded and captured.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Sgt Geddes, of 51 Squadron, played a key role in the defence of Camp Bastion.
It said Sgt Geddes heard the gunfire and explosions and "immediately responded amid the chaos of a ferocious battle, leading a 12-man team in Jackal armoured vehicles".
According to his citation, Sgt Geddes "breathed fire into the spirit of his men" – despite having a lump of shrapnel in his knee after one of his vehicles was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.
It is accepted the death toll and damage tally would have been far higher if Sgt Geddes had quit.
An extract of the citation for Sgt Geddes reads: "Despite being wounded, he insisted on leading the assaulting troops to the enemy position and immediately found himself back in the thick of the action, directing and guiding his men in pressing home the attack, neutralising the five insurgents.
"Immediately upon securing this location, he regrouped his men to continue to fight through enemy positions north towards the US Marine Corps Harrier operating area, which was ablaze. It was not until first light on September 15 when the airfield had been secured that Geddes was extracted to medical attention and, even then, only because he was ordered to by the Squadron Commander."
Sgt Geddes said of the incident: "I think it's the first time since the Second World War the RAF Regiment has had to repel an attack on an airstrip. Much of the fighting was close-quarter battle fighting.
"At one point I was taking a 30% casualty rate, but we kept going. I was shocked to be nominated for a Millie. It's amazing."
The Taliban were wearing local clothes and are thought to have been unarmed when they passed through checkpoints in pick-up trucks before the attack.
They then collected uniforms and weapons, including AK47 rifles and rocket-propelled grenades thought to have been buried near the base.
A suicide bomber blew a hole in the perimeter fence. Other fighters detonated their suicide vests in the battle.
The insurgents may have had help from members of the Afghan army or locals who work at the base.
Also receiving a Military Cross in the new Operational Honours list is Lance Corporal Lawrence Kayser, 27 from Woodton, Norfolk, who saved colleagues from a "potentially disastrous situation" in June 2012 when his platoon came upon a large group of enemy while preparing an ambush in Helmand.
Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond MP said: "In a changing world, the bravery and commitment to duty of our servicemen and women remains unswerving.
"I hope the awards announced today go some way to underlining how much this country values the efforts and sacrifices of our Armed Forces."
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