Honour for Plymouth Royal Marine who stormed a machine gun

A ROYAL Marine who stormed a machine-gun site in broad daylight to stop an insurgent firing at his colleagues has received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross from the Queen.

Sergeant Simon Wright-Hider, pictured right, was serving in Afghanistan's Helmand province with Stonehouse-based 30 Commando Information Exploitation in June last year when he saved several lives with his brave attack on a guarded position.

The commando led a side move past improvised bombs to cut off insurgents who were firing machine guns and small arms at his colleagues before coming face-to-face with a machine gunner who was preparing to ambush the team.

The 29-year-old said: "At the time, there was a feeling of adrenalin but it was also quite calm because my team was so well-drilled."

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He then fired at the insurgent, who withdrew into a room, and organised his men before following the man. He found the insurgent dead in a prepared firing position.

Sgt Wright-Hider added: "The operation probably lasted more than an hour and we were able to collect our evidence and leave.

"We set out to do a job that day and we fulfilled that role. To be awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross from Her Majesty The Queen is an honour.

"This operation wasn't an individual effort as I had a whole team there that was fully involved and I shall be sharing this award with them."