A soldier who braved gunfire and landmines to recover the body of a decorated bomb disposal hero has been awarded the Military Cross.

Company Sergeant Major (CSM) Ben Kelly, from Richmond, was given the military honour today for his fearless actions in Afghanistan last year.

After Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Gary O'Donnell was killed by an explosion in the Musa Qal’eh area of Helmand province on September 10, CSM Kelly - tasked with protecting the specialist bomb disposal team - immediately gave first aid to injured members under a hail of bullets and evacuated them back to the company’s headquarters.

The 36-year-old then volunteered to go back to the hostile area and recover the body of WO2 O'Donnell, who succeeded in helping defuse two bombs before the blast hit.

CSM Kelly, a former pupil at Shene School, prevented further casualties by ordering his crew to remain in their vehicle while he took a mine detector and spent the next 30 minutes, alone, clearing a route to WO2 O'Donnell - again under fire.

Speaking at a ceremony today, CSM Kelly said: “At no stage when I was out there did I think that I would get a medal - I was just doing my job.

“As the CSM it’s my responsibility to care for casualties, so I was very shocked when I was told.

“When you are in that position you have to make an assessment and a judgment call, but that doesn’t change what you have to do, and that responsibility falls to me.

“You just get on and do your job, and I had confidence in my troops. They allowed me to do what I did.

“They were taking fire from the Taliban, and there was a team around to give assistance if I needed it.

“I know my blokes very well and what they are capable of - the Taliban are good operators, but we are better.”

The award citation paid tribute to his “selfless actions and exceptional bravery” having carried out the rescue “under intense pressure and in the most traumatic circumstances, and in an area known to contain a significant improvised explosive device threat”.

CSM Kelly, who joined the Army in 1990, has previously been awarded a Mention in Dispatches for an earlier tour of Iraq.

WO2 O'Donnell was awarded his second George Medal posthumously in the last Operations Honours and Awards list, published in March this year.

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