Ex-Toti soldier honoured

Share this article: Share Tweet Share Share Share Email Share

A former eManzimtoti man, who this week received one of Britain’s highest awards for gallantry on the battlefield, has recalled how his comrade died – and how he was himself shot and “blown up” – while fighting in Afghanistan. Lance-Sergeant Markus Strydom and his platoon commander, Captain Michael Dobbin, were awarded the Military Cross (MC). Their fallen comrade, Lance-Corporal James Ashworth, also of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was given the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, his being the 10th to be awarded to a British soldier since World War II and the second in the Afghanistan conflict, according to the UK government. The awards were presented by Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony on the grounds of Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The reconnaissance platoon was attacked during an operation on June 13 last year during Strydom’s second tour of Afghanistan.

Talking to the Daily News from his home in Hampshire, England, Strydom said he joined the army, following closely in his father’s footsteps.

Lieutenant-Colonel Leon Strydom (JCD, MMM) served for 34 years in the SANDF.

Strydom said the Military Cross was award was not only for the June 13 mission but for several other incidents where he had gone beyond the call of duty to take out Taliban positions and protect his fellow soldiers.

“I am not allowed to speak about some of the incidents because some are classified and inquests are still being held for others.

“Essentially what happens is that at the end of each mission our commander compiles a report of all the events that occurred and from these reports it was decided that I be awarded the MC,” he said.

Strydom said that while some think his actions were those of a “lunatic”, he believes he was only doing his job.

“I always believe in leading the charge even if it is in the line of enemy fire,” he said.

Strydom said he would never forget the bravery of his fellow soldier, Ashworth, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross – the 1 361st one to be awarded.

Ashworth was killed when he stormed a Taliban sniper team which was attacking his platoon.

Despite being bombarded by a hail of bullets, Ashworth, 23, broke cover from his platoon, ran towards the Taliban position and threw his last grenade, killing the snipers.

He later died from injuries sustained during the attack.

Strydom said he was shot from about five metres away by two rounds from an AK47.

“I was hit twice in the stomach and once in the side. I was then blown up by a hand grenade.

“They say your life flashes in front of your eyes; that’s a lie! I just thought, ‘this day can’t get any worse’.”

Strydom performed the “man down” drill, alerting fellow officers to his predicament. He was grabbed by two men who got him out the “killing area” and behind cover.

“A medic began working on me and I was in and out of consciousness.”

From the Casualty Exchange Point he was carried on a stretcher for about 1.5km, then taken by quad bike to the patrol base from where he was airlifted to Camp Bastion for the night.

“The next day, I was on a flight headed for the UK, but my vitals were down and I started vomiting blood,” he said.

The plane landed in Cyprus where Strydom was rushed to an RAF hospital for emergency surgery. His bowels had been perforated by the shock waves of the blasts and he underwent five operations in 10 days. This involved removing 10cm of small intestine as well as stomach muscle because some of the tissue had died.

Strydom’s wife, Claire, was flown over to Cyprus to be by his side.

Being the wife of a soldier, she was fully aware of the dangers he faced every day, but that didn’t ease the sense of foreboding when she opened her door at 11pm to a uniformed welfare officer bearing news from Afghanistan.

“The first thing he said was, ‘he’s got his arms and legs’,” said Claire. “We knew then he’d been in a blast and had grenade wounds but not that he’d been shot.”

From Cyprus, Strydom was flown to a hospital in England and was discharged to his home in Hampshire 10 days later.

Getting back into civilian life, Strydom got involved in Forces Future, a NGO that helps soldiers find jobs and acclimatise outside the military.

“Coming from the military, you have to change your mindset when you get home. You’re used to being told what to do, what to wear. It’s all very regimental. Some people start in the military at 16 in an army college and they don’t have a support base outside the army,” he explained.

Having done ceremonial duties before being posted to a battalion, Strydom was no stranger to the royal family, who have close links to the military. However he did say receiving the prestigious award from the queen was “awe inspiring”.

Describing his reaction to being awarded the MC, Strydom said he was shocked at first and although it’s a “brilliant honour”, he didn’t do his job for the recognition.

“You do it for the blokes on your left and right,” he said. “I’ll wear it for the men who didn’t come back.”

[email protected]