The men, who were supporting US munitions clearance experts near Mahmoudiya, 160km south of Baghdad, became involved when they saw an explosion that left soldiers trapped under a collapsed bridge.
For over an hour and a half the men crawled on their hands and knees looking for the injured soldiers. Working with the US military’s quick reaction force, the ArmorGroup employees used tow trucks to remove unstable debris and administered vital first aid before the soldiers were taken to hospital.
The Royal Humane Society has awarded each rescuer the prestigious Testimonial on Vellum, which is given to people who have put their life in considerable danger to save, or attempt to save, another.
The honoured men are:
? Marcus Hammond, 44, from Yapham, Yorkshire
? Michael Natynczyk, 38, from Keighley, West Yorkshire
? Donald Campbell, 40, from Croy, Inverness
? Christopher Powell, 35, from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire
? John Walmsley, 38, from Kirkintilloch, Glasgow
? Ray Moore, 40, from Tandragee, County Armagh
Noel Philp, ArmorGroup’s chief operating officer said, “We are very proud of the whole team involved in this incident, both those who have been rewarded today for their selfless actions in the rescue of others but also the rest of the team who provided the essential protection without which the initial rescue would not have been possible.
“Our employees carry out dangerous and highly-skilled tasks every day to allow those involved in the reconstruction of Iraq to do their jobs safely and confidently. We remain committed to supporting those efforts for as long as they take.”
ArmorGroup is one of the largest private security companies in the country, with over 1,250 employees providing convoy security, protective security details (PSDs) and static guarding services.
