Hero Shrewsbury soldier ignored dangers to save pals

Rifleman Ben Taylor, from Harlescott Grange, Shrewsbury, said he was just trying to save his colleagues – who he calls his family – and gave no thought to the danger he was in.

The 21-year-old repeatedly dived in to murky water in a canal in Afghanistan to save the lives of his eight comrades after their 35-tonne armoured Mastiff vehicle rolled down a steep bank and partially sunk.

The former pupil of Sundorne School had only joined the army reserves because he "fancied a challenge", and said he was still in shock about being awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal – which is given in recognition "for exemplary acts of bravery".

He was on his first operational tour in Afghanistan when he became a top cover gunner in a Mastiff armoured vehicle assigned to covertly insert a sniper team into an Afghan national army checkpoint in Helmand Province.

"This was a trip of firsts for me," said Rfn Taylor. "It was the first time I had been on a flight, the first time I had been deployed on active service, I had my 21st birthday out there and Christmas. These men were not just close friends, they were my family."

When the accident happened, Rfn Taylor was initially trapped in the armoured vehicle and had to remove his body armour to escape.

He was then swept away by the current, but despite suffering a back injury, he swam back to the vehicle to help his trapped colleagues.

"I didn't think what to do. I just got on with it," said Rfn Taylor, who is based with E Company The Rifles at Copthorne Barracks in Shrewsbury.

"There are two escape hatches on the Mastiff but, because of the way it had gone into the water, they were jammed. So I had to get the eight blokes out of the water. I just kept diving down and getting them out.

"I would take them back to the surface and they would have to keep a lookout for the insurgents. I then dived back down and got another man. I had no protection, no body armour, nothing."

The rescue effort took approximately 40 minutes but it was only later that Rfn Taylor started to realise just what he had done.

"I had been back at base for about an hour and I just started shaking," said Rfn Taylor, who prior to his deployment worked as a self-employed roofer. "I don't know if it was the adrenaline or what but I couldn't stop shaking. It was the shock kicking in."

Because of injuries he suffered to his back, the military cut Rfn Taylor's deployment short.

"I was gutted to come home," he said. He is still unable to work as a roofer but is hoping that once his injuries have healed he will either be able to return to his former career or get an office-based job.

And on hearing he had been put forward for the gallantry award he said: "I thought blooming hell, I was just doing my job." Rfn Taylor's family are delighted that his incredibly brave actions have been recognised. "They are very proud. They thought it was brilliant," he said.

His honour citation said he displayed "immense physical courage and determination".

The Shropshire Star rvealed, on Friday, he is among 117 servicemen and women recommended for an award by their commanding officers for performing beyond the call of duty.

The Queen will present medals to those on the military honours list.