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Pupils meet Afganistan war hero
SCHOOLCHILDREN came face-to-face with a war hero while on a trip visiting World War One battlefields.
Year nine students from The Misbourne School attended a service of remembrance at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, last week when they unexpectedly came across Australian Trooper Mark Donaldson, a winner of the Victoria Cross for his service in Afghanistan.
He spoke to the 140 students from the Great Missenden school about his experiences and showed them his selection of medals including the Victoria Cross awarded for bravery, which he was given in January.
This followed an incident on September 2 last year when Mr Donaldson was on patrol with Afghan and US forces and they were ambushed by the Taliban. Sustained machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire caused many casualties and he deliberately exposed himself to fire from the Taliban fighters in order to draw their attention away from the casualties so they could be moved to cover.
He had to make his way on foot, beside their vehicles, as the casualties filled them but after leaving, he noticed a wounded Afghan interpreter had been left behind so he crossed 80 metres of open ground under heavy fire to carry him back to the vehicles where he administered first aid.
Mr Donaldson told the pupils: "I don't deserve this. There are so many heroes still fighting who deserve it more than me."
Pupil Jack Tebb, 13, said: "It was a very big honour to meet a person who had won a Victoria Cross, he was such a nice and down to earth person."
Headteacher John Robinson said: "During the school trip our students visited a variety of memorials, battlefields and museums to gain a greater understanding of the First World War.
"However for them to meet a real life war hero of current times, it really brought home to them the effects that war can have and is still having today. Our students were moved by the service of remembrance and in meeting Trooper Donaldson. I am very proud of them for their respect shown."
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As a student in year 9 at the misbourne school, i was able to attend the trip of a life time. It was so educating and i makes you think of others and how we wouldn't be here if it wasnt for them.
Going to meet the war hero was amazing. He was just a normal guy from a normal family, like me or you. absoloutley fantastic.
Elena Coley
Really sorry
i was supposed to put IT instead of I
Thanks
Elena Coley
I was also among those that took the trip to Belgium. It was an amazing experience and i would like to thank the school for giving me the chance to take the trip.
I hope that future students will enjoy it as much as i did.
Chelsea Carnall
I was under the impression that at Year 9, Pupil's would have a basic understanding of Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling? Oh...I forgot.....the Labour mantra was 'educayshun educayshun educayshun' was it not?!?
God help us if this is supposed to be the future generation!
But lets not forget the generation that raised these pupils, for it is not from fault of their own; but those who have taught them the basics which is the parents.
Couldn't agree more. Interestingly, THAT Generation (70/80's) grew up/entered Adulthood into a culture started, and ultimately ended by Lie-bore, which is "pass the buck wherever possible, and don't take responsibility for your own actions"!!
Would never have happened under Thatcher, thats for sure!