Comments (6)

George Cross hero's parents tell of their pride and pain

SIMON NEVILLE

THE parents of a Scottish soldier who was decorated for bravery in Afghanistan yesterday broke their silence to reveal their pride and pain over his death.

Corporal Mark Wright, who served with the Parachute Regiment, was killed by a landmine last year while trying to rescue injured colleagues.

He later posthumously became one of only 24 recipients of the George Cross in the past five decades.

His mother Jem, 58, and father Bobby, 60, told of their pride about their son who dreamed of a future with the SAS.

Recalling the day the news was broken to them, Mr Wright said: "I was out and Jem rang my mobile, hysterical, telling me to come home.

"I thought maybe it was her father who was ill at the time but when I got home there were two army guys. It was a horrendous scene. Jem knew right away when she saw the uniforms.

"I said afterwards to the minister, 'Why us?' and he said, 'Would you rather it was someone else's family?' I thought, 'No'."

Mrs Wright added: "Because he was away so much, you still expect he's coming home. Every time he went away I'd say, 'Take care' and he'd say, 'I'll be all right'. You had to switch yourself off."

Cpl Wright, 27, from Edinburgh, was on his fourth tour of duty when he was killed. He had served in Northern Ireland and Iraq - which he described as a "walk in the park compared to Afghanistan". Less than a fortnight before his death, Cpl Wright had been home on leave, helping his childhood sweetheart Gillian Urquhart with preparations for their wedding - just eight weeks away.

He had also bought a Saab, on which he displayed the registration P4RRA, in reference to the job he loved.

But on 6 September last year, the mortar platoon soldier had gone to help six colleagues badly injured after straying into a minefield.

Despite knowing the risks, he made a conscious decision to enter the area.

He took command of the incident, ordering all unnecessary personnel to safety and organising the casualty evacuation. As he made his way to the Chinook helicopter he triggered a landmine and was badly hurt himself.

After four mine blasts, there were seven casualties in the field - including three who had lost limbs.

Despite his own injuries, Cpl Wright continued to mastermind the rescue mission, shouting encouragement to his comrades until they were eventually winched aboard an American helicopter. But died in the helicopter before it reached the field hospital.

After the funeral service at 3 Para's Colchester base, his colleagues astounded his parents with stories of his courage.

Mr Wright said: "What we didn't know was that before he came back from Afghanistan on leave he'd seen a bit of action. They were telling us if it wasn't for him 34 of them would be dead. His captain was hit and Mark was left in charge during a four-day firefight without sleep. "They were putting him forward for the Queen's Gallantry Medal. Mark never said a word about it."

A preliminary hearing into his death will take place next month, with a full inquest to follow;

but Mrs Wright does not plan to attend the hearings.

"I don't want to know what happened there," she said. "Mark wouldn't tell us anyway. He never boasted about anything."

Mr Wright, a painter and decorator of Newington, Edinburgh, plans to attend.

Cpl Wright's parents decided to speak publicly in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday to raise awareness of the veterans' charity Poppyscotland.

HIGH HONOUR

THE George Cross was introduced in 1941 and is the highest award for actions not in the face of the enemy. Since its inception, it has been awarded posthumously to 86 people and to 73 living recipients.

Cpl Wright's medal is displayed at the National War Museum at Edinburgh Castle. The citation reads: "His supreme courage and outstanding leadership were an inspiration to his men. For acts of the greatest gallantry and complete disregard for his own safety in striving to save others, Corporal Wright is awarded the George Cross."