Teenager wins Military Cross

Private Alex Kennedy (right) and his platoon Comander Captain Andy Bell

A teenage soldier who saved his injured commander in Afghanistan when he was 18 is believed to be the youngest person since the Second World War to earn the Military Cross for bravery.

However Private Alex Kennedy, of 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment said yesterday he felt that there were better heroes than him.

Pte Kennedy, who had only been in the Army for six months, was lead man in a patrol which came under fire in Garmsir, Helmand province, last year.

The man behind him, patrol commander Captain Andy Bell, was hit in the legs and lay bleeding heavily.

Heavy Taliban fire and difficult terrain meant the rest of the patrol further back was unable to engage the enemy and support them.

Pte Kennedy gave Capt Bell first aid, organised colleagues to start returning fire then got on a radio to direct nearby armoured vehicles to provide cover and allow the rest of the patrol to move up and help.

This was despite being knocked off his feet and left temporarily stunned by a bullet that ricocheted off his helmet.