Soldier awarded Afghanistan medal

A soldier from Melsonby has been awarded an Afghanistan operational medal after he was deployed to lead a troop of men who had lost their commander to a battle injury.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Aug 2011, 11:23 BST

Captain Matthew Selby, 28, was one of 40 soldiers from X Company 1st Royal Regiment of Fusiliers who were deployed as a Battle Casualty Replacement during 16 Air Assault Brigade’s operational tour of Afghanistan.

This is a particularly testing role as they not only had to replace an injured soldier, but also get used to a different regiment.

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Capt Selby was deployed two days before Christmas to take over a platoon of soldiers as a ground holding Platoon Commander.

He said: “I won’t lie, it is daunting because you have never met any of them before and suddenly you are thrust into the operational environment which as everyone knows can be very dangerous. But it doesn’t make any difference to the responsibilities you have as a platoon commander.”

Mr Selby stayed with B Company for five months. Its role was to secure the village of Rahim in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand.

The former Barnard Castle School student returned from Afghanistan in April.

Related topics:Afghanistan