Queen's commendation for Yeovil soldier (From Yeovil Express)

Queen's commendation for Yeovil soldier

9:04am Friday 7th March 2008 in News By Steve Sowden

YEOVIL soldier, Sgt Robert Taylor, of 4th Battalion The Rifles, has been awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in this year's operational honours and awards for "demonstrating selfless leadership of the highest order" in Iraq.

Robert, 30, a former pupil of Westfield Community School, was based in Basra for eight months last year as a platoon sergeant in charge of 30 men. His task was to carry out intelligence-led strike operations to arrest insurgents and seize weapons, and to protect resupply convoys heading to and from neighbouring Kuwait.

During one night convoy, in the middle of the desert, the lead Land Rover was blown up by a massive roadside bomb killing two occupants and seriously wounding the commander and driver.

"My initial concerns were to extract the casualties and to protect ourselves from a follow-up attack," said Robert.

"The commander of the convoy had gone into shock because conditions were pretty gruesome and messy. I was worried more people would go into shock so I took command of the situation."

Robert called in helicopters to evacuate the two injured soldiers and organised a fighting patrol to confront the enemy force they had been told was heading towards them, as well as calling in Apache gunships.

He was on the ground for nearly 12 hours before finally being able to return to camp.

An extract from his citation reads: "Sgt Taylor was courageous and compassionate demonstrating selfless leadership of the highest order.

"His quick thinking prevented further casualties and his personal example reassured the frightened solders under his command."

Robert, after hearing he had been awarded the honour, said: "I wasn't expecting any award at all - all the guys on the ground reacted very well. It was pitch black but everyone worked together really well.

"You don't think it is going to happen, but all the training you have done snaps in, and you almost turn into a machine, milking all the training you have had since you started as a young soldier. Things then get done very quickly and everything seems a lot easier.

"This is a real honour, but thinking back on it, it is not just an individual award. I will accept it on behalf of every person who was there that night."

Robert joined the Army in 1997. His younger brother Chris, 28, is also in the Army, and his parents, Hazel and Jeremy Taylor, live in Yeovil.