10:19am Sunday 14th March 2010
By Simon Carr
A HAMPSHIRE bomb disposal expert is to be honoured with one of the country’s highest awards for bravery – six months after being killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.
Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, 30, of the Royal Logistic Corps, died near Sangin in central Helmand Province on October 31 last year.
The Ministry of Defence will announce the award on Friday, it was reported today.
His widow, Christina, is expected to receive the medal from the Queen later this year.
The George Cross ranks along with the Victoria Cross as the country's highest award for gallantry but is awarded to military personnel for acts of heroism not in the presence of the enemy. It is also the highest gallantry award for civilians.
During his time in Afghanistan Staff Sgt Schmid made 64 improvised explosive devices safe and found 11 bomb-making centres.
After his death Lieutenant Colonel Rob Thomson, commanding officer of 2 Rifles Battle Group, described him as “simply the bravest and most courageous man I have ever met”.
Staff Sgt Schmid was killed while trying to disarm an improvised explosive device. He had been due to return to the UK the next day.
At his funeral at Truro Cathedral his widow, Christina, called on world leaders to do more to protect soldiers serving in the war-torn country.
She said: “Olaf and troops like him join to serve traditional warrior values, to passionately protect the country they love, its ideals and especially their families, communities and each other.”
She said the last 18 months of her husband's life presented his ''toughest, darkest challenges ever'' and although he was known among his colleagues as a joker she had sometimes been called upon to wipe away his tears.
During the summer he took part in Operation Panther's Claw, the Army's offensive to clear populated areas in central Helmand of Taliban insurgents.
Staff Sgt Schmid, also known as Oz, was born in Truro, but lived in Winchester, Hampshire, with Christina and stepson, Laird, five.
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