b. 1982 West Germany.
DATE OF CGC ACTION: 14/03/2009 Yatimchay, Afghanistan.
Gary Prout CGC
Gary was born in West Germany in 1982, where his father was serving in the British Army. Gary was almost pre-destined for a career in the military with him being 4th generation. His great-grandfather was a recipient of the Military Medal, and his great-uncle, Ernest Pitcher, was a recipient of the Victoria Cross. Gary’s childhood was mostly spent in Northern Ireland, where his father was next posted. Despite being small in stature, Gary had natural ability in sports.
After joining the army in 2004, he was chosen to become a forward observer, a role not normally given to new recruits. It is a stressful and highly demanding job that requires the observer to call in extremely accurate artillery strikes often in close proximity to friendly forces. In 2005 he deployed to Iraq as part of the Brigade Commander’s Close Protection Multiple. In 2007 he deployed to Afghanistan in multiple roles, from Battle group HQ staff, Signaller in a Fire Support Team and a signaller in a Tactical Air Control Party.
In early 2009, he had now gained the rank of Lance Bombardier and was again deployed to Afghanistan. arly on 14th March 2009, Lance Bombardier Prout deployed with a patrol to probe the Taliban’s forward defences in the settlement of Yatimchay. He was part of the Fire Support Team (FST), with 9 Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh Regiment. Yatimchay had developed as the enemy front line south of Musa Qal’eh following the winter months. The insurgents had heavily fortified the compounds with well concealed firing positions, rat-runs and a significant number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along all the likely approach routes. It was the most dangerous terrain within the Company’s Area of Operations and every patrol would expect to come under effective and sustained insurgent attack.
Some hours later the patrol had cleared through several compounds. There had been several sightings of significant, suspicious movement. As Lance Bombardier Prout and the FST provided cover from a compound roof, Lance Corporal Harkett moved forward across open ground but was engulfed by a large explosion, and blown up in full view of the entire platoon. This triggered a highly aggressive ambush, with the patrol engaged from numerous firing points by accurate small arms and RPGs from a range of no more than 100 metres. With the platoon pinned down and under sustained and withering fire, Prout removed his day-sack containing the radio and instantly made towards the casualty, without heed for his own safety. As the rest of the platoon took cover, he climbed down from the exposed roof in full view to the enemy. Ignoring the risks to his own life, including the threat of secondary IEDs, he crossed the 75 metres of open ground to reach the casualty. The enemy saw Prout administering immediate first aid and re-focused their fire onto him. Despite this, he dragged his mortally wounded comrade across the open ground to safety. Having ascertained that Harkett was in the hands of the platoon medic, Prout braved the incoming fire when returning to the compound roof in order to be in the best position to call for artillery fire. For the next two hours the platoon endured the most intense contact of the Company’s tour. Prout steadfastly co-ordinated artillery and air support, enabling the platoon to extract without further loss of life.
For the duration of this action, Lance Bombardier Prout consciously risked his life on three separate occasions, and it was a miracle he himself was not killed. For displaying the greatest courage which goes beyond that normally expected of an NCO in the face of the enemy, he was later awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
In 2012, he suffered a life changing injury whilst he was instructing new Army recruits. During his long rehabilitation from the injury, he returned to a sport which had excelled in prior to his army career – archery. Gary had represented his country from the age of 11. At the age of 15 he shot for the N.I. Senior Team at the British Indoor Championships (one of the youngest ever to represent the NI senior team) and accumulated a number of Northern Ireland and British records some of which remain unbeaten.
Gary was also selected for Northern Ireland Archery development Team that would compete in the Commonwealth Games in 2010. On his last scheduled patrol in 2009, he tore his shoulder and required intensive rehab and surgery. He missed his opportunity to attempt to qualify for the Games. After his life changing injury in 2012, he embraced the challenge of Para Sports and was chosen to captain the UK Armed Forces Reserve Archery Team at the inaugural Invictus Games in London, winning Gold in the Team event, and Silver in the Individual.
Gary is married with two daughters and lives in the South West.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL ARTILLERY COLLECTION, LARKHILL, WILTSHIRE.
