Daring Merseysdie marine denied medal

Sep 11 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

Chris Fraser-Perry, from Southport (158)

A MERSEYSIDE marine who embarked on one of the most daring rescue missions of the war in Afghani-stan – by strapping himself to the side of an attack helicopter – has been denied a bravery medal.

Chris Fraser-Perry, 19, from Southport, was one of four soldiers who risked their lives to recover the body of colleague Lance Cor-poral Matthew Ford.

They flew into fierce gunfight in southern Afghanistan clinging to the stabiliser “wings” of two Apache helicop-ters in what was des-cribed by senior army officials as a “heroic leap in the dark”.

The marine’s father Geoff Perry, 39, said he was disappointed his son and two comrades would not receive medals for their part in the action.

Other airmen and soldiers on the same mission have been recognised with the pilots receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, their co-pilots the Military Cross and an army officer also strapped to the helicop-ter, Captain Dave Rigg, a Military Cross.

The three marines – Warrant Officer Colin Hearn, Marine Gary Robinson and Marine Chris Fraser-Perry – received nothing.

Mr Perry said it was disappointing some of the team were reward-ed when others were overlooked. He said: “Chris was awarded a Joint Commanders Commendation for his efforts which is a massive pat on the back. But as parents we are disappointed that not everyone who took part in such a danger-ous mission did not receive the same treatment. However the reward for Chris was that he was able to bring back Lance Cor-poral Mathew Ford.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Rory Bruce described the operation in January as “an extraordinary tale of heroism and bravery”.

The MoD refused to comment.