NZ soldier earns citation in Afghanistan

By SCOTT MacLEOD and AINSLEY THOMSON

A New Zealand soldier serving with the elite British SAS has been cited for bravery and recommended for a medal after saving a wounded man in a gun battle in Afghanistan.

TV3's 20/20 programme said last night that the unnamed SAS soldier dragged a wounded British soldier to safety while under heavy fire from Taleban or al Qaeda forces.

It said he could receive the Victoria Cross. If so, he would be one of only 21 New Zealanders to have won the medal, which is forged from metal taken from guns captured from the Russians in the Crimean War.

However, military sources told the Herald last night that it was more likely the soldier was in line for a lesser medal.

If the soldier receives the Victoria Cross, it would be the first time since World War II that the award has gone to a New Zealander.

The New Zealand-born soldier, aged in his late 20s, was serving with 22 Regiment in the elite British SAS - which was one of the first units to go into Afghanistan.

The soldiers were part of a land and air attack on al Qaeda forces, thought to number about 100 men, hiding in an opium den near Kandahar.

During the action the soldiers came under heavy fire and were quickly outgunned.

The New Zealander rushed over, grabbed a wounded man and dragged him 200m or 300m to safety while being shot at.

The Herald understands the raid took place in December.

SAS officers are known to be lobbying the British military hierarchy for a number of their men to receive awards for bravery under fire in Afghanistan.

The matter of VCs for British SAS soldiers has become a public issue in Britain because the Government wants to name and identify their regiment as well as provide citations for the soldiers.

But the ultra-secret SAS is worried that its members would be publicly identified since theirs is the only British regiment fighting in Afghanistan.

Defence Minister Mark Burton said last night that the soldier was an expatriate New Zealander and had not been seconded from the New Zealand SAS.

"Any New Zealander who showed great courage under fire, we would be very proud of. But his status is with the British 22nd SAS regiment."

The SAS tries to keep its actions secret to protect the families of its soldiers.

A spokesman for the NZ Army, Major Kendall Langston, said, "It's got nothing to do with us - he's with the British".