Young hero with PTSD sells his Military Cross

BRITAIN’S youngest known Military Cross recipient since the Second World War will auction off his gallantry medal tomorrow because it is a “painful reminder” of the horrors of Afghanistan.

- By James Podesta

Lance Corporal Alexander Kennedy was just 18 when he displayed “exceptional bravery” and saved the life of his platoon commander during an ambush by the Taliban.

Now a civilian suffering from PTSD due to his experience of conflict, he is offloading all his medals because they remind him of “quite a difficult time”.

On June 8, 2009, L/Cpl Kennedy’s unit, the 2nd Battalion, Mercian Regiment, came under fire while on patrol in Garmsir in the Helmand Province.

Remarkable

L/Corp Kennedy’s light machine gun was hit by a bullet, knocking him to the ground and leaving him temporarily blind and deaf. But as soon as he regained his senses he crawled over to Capt Andy Bell, who had been shot in both legs.