b. 1987 Worcester.
DATE OF CGC ACTION: 06/06/2007 Rahim Kalay, Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Paul D Willmott CGC
Paul was born in Worcester in 1987. Paul enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Mercian Regiment in 2005, and was aged just 21, when he would perform the act of gallantry which would lead to the award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The incident in question occurred on 6 June 2007 in the village of Rahim Kalay, in the Upper Gereshk Valley of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
His citation states as follows:
“Private Willmott was a rifleman in Number 1 Section of 6 Platoon during a Company patrol in the village of Rahim Kalay, in the Upper Gereshk Valley (UGV) on 6 June 2007. The UGV is a hard and demanding environment: vegetation so dense it is akin to a jungle; movement is difficult as the area is dominated by irrigation ditches, and engagements with the enemy, who infest the area, are at exceptionally short ranges. The area is known locally as the Green Zone (GZ). The company moved to establish a block south of the town. On moving across open ground, Willmott’s Platoon identified a ten-man enemy patrol and had little choice but to open fire immediately. The enemy fighters went to ground and returned a withering volley. Additionally, previously unidentified enemy positions less than seventy metres away, in compounds to their rear and from hedge lines to their flanks, began attacking them. The enemy fighters numbered at least forty. Willmott’s Section was pinned down. Sustained and accurate sniper and small arms fires kept them in the killing zone of what appeared to be a complex enemy ambush. Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) began to explode among them. It was clear that the Section must move or die. With little regard for their own personal safety, Wilt and another soldier, leapt up and moved to a position from where they could begin to suppress the enemy. The rest of the Section remained trapped, with no cover from the enemy’s fire. Then disaster, Willmott’s Section Commander was shot in the head. Immediately and in full view of the enemy, Willmott crawled to his body to administer first aid. It was clear that the Section Commander was dead but, not willing to abandon a fallen comrade, Willmott began dragging his Section Commander into cover. Throughout this time, out in the open, Willmott was the focus of the enemy’s fire. Small arms fire landed around him and RPG shrapnel and blast swept over him. Despite enormous danger of being killed himself, Willmott gave it not a second thought. His one, all consuming aim was to save his comrades and friends. Having pulled his Section Commander into cover, he assumed command of the Section. With Willmott as commander, co-ordinating fire and movement the Section withdrew to an irrigation ditch, forty metres away. To cover his comrades, Willmott poured rifle fire into the enemy’s positions and killed five enemy fighters. With great presence of mind, and still the focus of the enemy’s attack, he established communications with his platoon Commander and passed target indications. The rest of 6 Platoon was brought into action and began suppressing the enemy. Willmott seized the opportunity to extract his Section from the killing zone and then manoeuvred the Section to cover the withdrawal of the Platoon. Willmott single-handedly carried his dead Section Commander over extremely rough terrain to the Platoon’s rally point. He was then assisted by other members of the Platoon in the casualty’s extraction to the company Aid Post. Willmott’s actions were exceptional, and beyond what might reasonably be expected of a very junior private soldier. He assumed command in the most testing of circumstances and, killing enemy fighters as he went, withdrew his Section to safety while not abandoning a casualty. He showed extreme devotion to duty and to his comrades, as well as exceptional courage and resolve. For this, he deserves significant recognition.”
On that fatal day the two mates were only feet apart when he saw Lance Corporal Stanford fall, with bullets flying he had to keep his word and help his mate. In his words ‘We were under heavy fire the whole time, but I knew I just had to get him out of there, because I would rather his body was flown home and returned to his mum and dad, than left there for them to do whatever they do to it’. A month later his mother was to receive the dreaded knock on the door that would revile an Army Officer to inform her that her son had been wounded in action. His base had come under a Rocket Propelled Grenade attack. In his words ‘I was just outside the compound when I was told to get dressed and I was about to get up I heard a whistling sound. My reaction was to sit up and run but when I did it hit me. My head was streaming with blood but I was running to get away from it when it blew up’. In fact a RPG had skimmed his face causing wounds and he was then covered with shrapnel splinters ‘The worst pain I have ever felt. It is 85 degrees pieces of metal burning into your skin and you can’t get it out’. After six days in hospital he returned to light duties and continued his tour until the Regiment returned home. The first Private Willmott knew of the Award was when he was summoned to the Commanding Officer’s office ‘I was cacking myself I thought I was going to be in trouble, but when he told me I was just so happy’.
Paul, who is married, and still lives in Worcestershire, sold his Conspicuous Gallantry Cross at auction at Bosley’s, Marlow on 1 September 2010 to support his family.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
